The Navy is providing a one-time fee to sailors at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, who’re being kicked out of their barracks and struggling to seek out housing, a spokeswoman instructed Army.com.
Earlier in Could, sailors who spoke with Army.com and social media posts revealed that the closure of the barracks on the island base was forcing junior sailors both to seek out lodging on the town at costs properly above their housing allowances or pay the Navy that very same allowance to stay with a roommate in trailers initially supposed as “trip rental models.”
Arwen FitzGerald, spokeswoman for the commander of the Navy Area Southeast, instructed Army.com in an electronic mail Thursday that the ocean service has now authorised “a partial dislocation allowance of $840.07 to assist offset prices related to shifting into a brand new residence, akin to safety deposits or advances.”
Learn Subsequent: Guard Leaders Increase the Alarm over Air Power Proposal for Half-Time Area Power Reserves
The allowance shouldn’t be a particular lodging for Key West sailors, nevertheless. FitzGerald defined that the Navy was granted the flexibility to make these funds within the final protection funding invoice, and the profit went into impact April 27. Sailors’ eligibility for such a payout was not talked about by Navy officers when Army.com first reached out concerning the state of affairs on the base.
FitzGerald additionally added that the one-time fee shouldn’t be automated. “Sailors might want to apply for the partial dislocation allowance via their chain of command,” she stated. Info on what number of sailors have utilized up to now, or whether or not any have acquired funds, was not instantly accessible, she stated.
The Navy additionally famous that the entire 79 sailors within the barracks have finalized their move-out plans and that 9 sailors have instructed leaders that they plan to maneuver into the holiday leases.
The additional money will not tackle one of many main considerations talked about by sailors who spoke with Army.com concerning the housing points: They have been involved about new service members reporting to the bottom within the coming weeks and months who would nonetheless face the housing crunch in Key West however would not be eligible for the displacement payout.
The navy usually pays for 10 days of lodging for service members altering obligation stations earlier than they’re anticipated to offer for their very own housing.
When requested about this concern, FitzGerald emphasised that the bottom “is working intently with all of the tenant instructions to make sure that their welcome aboard data and sponsors are conscious that the barracks are present process renovations.”
When Army.com requested a sailor presently stationed on the bottom and impacted by the move-out concerning the dislocation fee, they stated that they’d heard about it however knew little extra.
“It is going to be nice if I do get it, but when I do not, oh properly, not a lot I can do,” they stated.
FitzGerald defined that “welcome aboard packets will embody data on tips on how to apply for [the housing allowance] and the way to join the roommate program,” earlier than including that the bottom’s housing middle may even supply “a listing of the newest accessible leases out on the town to place of their welcome packets.”
This case is the newest in a collection of points with sailor high quality of life — and housing, particularly — that has plagued the Navy this 12 months. High leaders routinely inform sailors, the general public and lawmakers that sailors are their high precedence.
At a listening to on the Navy’s development finances Wednesday, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., opened the proceedings by noting that “I assume the Navy and Marine Corps will say in the present day that probably the most priceless asset they’ve is their individuals,” earlier than including that “phrases matter, however motion issues extra.”
Regardless of conditions just like the one at Key West, Navy leaders instructed Congress that a lot of the service’s deliberate development finances will go towards shipyard capabilities, not sailor housing, within the coming 12 months.
FitzGerald beforehand instructed Army.com that sailors affected by housing shortages on the base ought to contact the Housing Service Middle at (305) 293-4127/(305) 293-4466 or KeyWest_Housing@navy.mil.
— Konstantin Toropin could be reached at konstantin.toropin@navy.com. Comply with him on Twitter @ktoropin.
Associated: Junior Sailors Scrambling for a Place to Stay After the Navy Shutters Its Barracks at Key West
© Copyright 2022 Army.com. All rights reserved. This materials will not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
