JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- A recent survey of almost 17,000 military families across United States shows more than half are dissatisfied with living on base.
- According to the MFAN report, 16,779 responses were received and 55 percent had a negative or very negative experience.
- Officials say contracts aren't working in the best interest of the military community living in the homes.
- Sen. Thom Tillis says the Department of Defense will meet with nearly two dozen private base housing companies to figure out a plan to fix these issues.
This is according to questionnaire results released Wednesday, conducted by the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) .
The online questionnaire was given to families who lived in on-base housing in the last three years.
According to the MFAN report, 16,779 responses were received and 55 percent had a negative or very negative experience.
Those results, going hand in hand with an earful U.S. Senators heard Wednesday from military families testifying about living in moldy homes, full of rodents, exposed to dangerous chemicals and more.
One USMC spouse and advocate for the families, Crystal Cornwall, says military families are being ignored by property management companies on bases and are in fear of retaliation. “I have been to town halls where families were dismissed, and they also feared retaliation for reporting their concerns,” she said.
Cornwall says the 50-year-old contracts property management companies have with the military have a created a marriage between the DOD and corporations, instead of working in the best interest of the military community living in the homes.
This is something Senator Thom Tillis, a co-chair of the committee is considering.
"I've asked them to reach out to every person in military housing, to let them know, our Senate office can process case work, to help them clear their complaints but to also put them on record that we expect a very different result, very soon."
Tillis says the Department of Defense will meet with nearly two dozen private base housing companies to figure out a plan to fix these issues in the near future. Tillis says lawmakers will consider legislation to modernize the 20 year old private housing program, including possibly reworking the long term contracts as they stand right now.