His priority on waiting list for George's on-post substandard housing is too low for him to expect an apartment during his tour. Problem: Intends to leave Air Force due to continual housing deprivations; family now living in mother-in-law's trailer in Idaho. Staff Sergeant is an aircraft electrical navigation equipment technician, a critical skill throughout the Air Force. He describes his experiences: "Have looked for adequate housing in immediate area, but difficult to find furnished house which landlord will accept four children. At the present time, I have 8 months' service left and I plan to be discharged because of housing situation and separation from family. After 8 years in the service I find everywhere I go the housing problem is critical. I spent 32 years at Dow AFB, Bangor, Maine. There I paid an average of $75 for housing, which was by far substandard. Housing that was standard was at least $110 to $150 per month and utilities, and as an airman, first class, and below during this period, I could not afford it. I then was shipped to Japan. Off-base housing (known as Paddy Houses) was an average $75 per month for these cheap cracker boxes. The driving conditions were horrible. No place for the children to play. The base housing was a 24- to 27-month wait and when moved into was, I consider, substandard. Plus, when I shipped back to the United States my son had 1 month to go to finish the first grade. They do not authorize extensions overseas for the purpose of keeping children in school. Therefore, I had to leave my wife with her mother so my son could attempt to finish his first grade and be promoted to the second grade, as it would take too long in this area to find a house to live in. I received a base brochure from George AFB, which stated that on-base housing for senior staffs was seldom and for junior staffs almost never. I'm still looking. I do not intend to move my family into a pig pen such as I was forced to do while stationed in Japan. At the present time, if I cannot find housing here, my family will remain with my mother-in-law until I get discharged from active duty on February 13, 1964. Then I will not have to pay the outrageous prices for living in the slums as the present conditions are for the majority of the lower grade in the military." He is 86th on the waiting list for substandard Lanham and 104th for Wherry, with virtually no hope of being reached. Location: Minot Air Force Base, N. Dak. wife, two small daughters. Problem: Great distances and scarcity of rentals force junior airman and NCO's into marginal housing at this expanding SAC base. This 7-year veteran is a multijet-engine mechanic charged with keeping a SAC bomber ready. After long search, he located an apartment in the basement of an uncompleted house shown above. Unit has no hot water, wood-coal stove for heat, substandard electrical wiring, leaking roof, and badly deteriorated walls and ceiling. This family is 265th on the base waiting list. Location: Fort Irwin, Calif. Family: Sergeant First Class years). wife, two sons, and two daughters (3 to 9 Problem: Poor housing has forced this famiy to separate for majority of 11 years of marriage. This tank commander has 17 years service and a Purple Heart for a Korean war wound. He was stationed at Camp Roberts when he married; no on- or off-post quarters were available so his wife lived in Visalia, Calif. Next, at Fort Irwin, they bought a trailer and lived on post. Next, they were stationed in Germany, with an initial 8-month separation while awaiting quarters. Next, they were forced to buy another trailer to live, six people, at Fort Ord. Next, came an 18-month separation while the sergeant was again in Korea. Now he is back at Fort Irwin, and again no housing is available. The family is back at Visalia, 250 miles away. After waiting 16 months, they expect assignment soon to two small bedrooms in inadequate, on-post housing. It will be at least another year before their turn for adequate public quarters comes up. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING Less adequate Government quarters, end fiscal year 1963- 349, 000 341, 000 690,000 Total---- 5-year net deficit_____ Less assets to be obtained from: 1. Anticipated increase in community support- 2. Retention of usable substandard assets (+15,000 for ineligible personnel) - 3. Future leasing and rental guarantee programs. 4. Additional trailer spaces for those preferring private trailers (+1,300 spaces for ineligible personnel) 5. Rehabilitation of currently inadequate quarters to a status of adequacy. 128, 000 42, 200 5,000 15, 800 2,000 900 65, 900 62, 100 Analysis of proposed new construction program, fiscal years 1964-68 |