WASHINGTON, D.C. — Military families who say they’re fed up with inaction on widespread housing problems are taking their fight to Capitol Hill.
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Eyewitness News Washington Correspondent Samantha Manning has been investigating the problem for months, uncovering unsafe living conditions at bases around the country, and practices to silence the families from talking about their experiences.
READ: Exclusive: Senators launch inquiry into health impact on military families in unsafe housing
She recently spoke to a group of military families now seeking help from Congress.
For family after family, the experiences are frustratingly similar.
“We have lived in three back-to-back duty stations,” military spouse and veteran Alacia Camechis said. “Each house that we have lived in on-base housing has had some form of mold problems.”
In addition to reports of mold, families have complained about infestations of bugs and structural problems, often leading to health concerns for the families living in the homes on-base that are run by private companies. They say it’s their kids they worry for the most.
READ: ‘Why is it acceptable?:’ Military families push for accountability for base housing problems
The group, “National Military Housing Advocates,” recently took their fight to Capitol Hill and arrived armed with data they collected by surveying military families, creating a paper trail of housing problems and health concerns.
“We’re calling out for help,” military spouse Raven Roman said. “We are documenting families who are in displacement suites. Their children are sick.”
Those health concerns are now part of a bipartisan investigation in Congress. Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff led the charge in a letter sent to the Department of Defense demanding answers about potential links between health problems and unsafe living conditions.
The letter was co-signed by two Republicans from Florida, Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Rick Scott.
“They’re putting their lives on the line in our national defense,” Sen. Ossoff said. “They shouldn’t have to sacrifice a safe, clean, healthy home at the same time.”
”I want to make sure we really understand where the housing problems are and what caused them and how we can fix it,” Sen. Scott added.
The advocacy group says their goal now is to get accountability and action from the Defense Department. They want the DoD to pull contracts from the housing companies that won’t fix the issues.
“Pulling the contracts with these particular companies, I think, will send a message that we’re not playing anymore,” Camechis said. “We need to get companies in there that are willing to step up and treat our service members and our families the way they deserve to be treated.”
READ: ‘It’s hush money:’ Military family rejects housing settlement over mold, sewage requiring NDA
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has also said she wants the contracts pulled if the problems aren’t fixed.
“If we can’t see a really steep curve in terms of fixing those problems, then I want to talk to the Department of Defense about terminating the contracts,” Sen. Warren said.
It’s a move the military families say is long overdue.
“I want the DoD to stand up, put their foot down and protect their soldiers,” one military spouse said.
READ: Sen. Warren demands answers about military housing: ‘I want these contractors in front of me’
So far, there has been no response from the Department of Defense about the Senators’ letter looking for answers about the potential link between health problems and the housing problems on-base.
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