Warnock seeks to shine light on problems with on-post housing

WASHINGTON (WRDW/WAGT) - U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Ted Cruz on Tuesday introduced legislation that’s meant to help improve military housing conditions.

It would require the Department of Defense to publicly release existing reports on privatized family housing on military installations.

That’s important in Augusta because privatized housing at Fort Eisenhower has been an issue for years, sparking an investigation by Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.

News 12′s Meredith Anderson has been uncovering unsafe conditions like mold, electrical and gas issues, pest problems and leaking sewage in housing that’s run by Balfour Beatty.

Some families claim they’ve suffered health issues that last long after they move out – problems like chronic fatigue, body aches and memory loss.

The Military Housing Performance Insight Act by Warnock, D-Ga., and Cruz, R-Texas, is aimed at increasing transparency, ing oversight efforts and addressing long-standing issues in military housing quality and safety.

“Our service and their families deserve safe, quality housing. That is why I am proud to Senator Cruz on this bipartisan effort to ensure transparency and ability needed to maintain high standards in military housing,” said the Rev. Warnock. “By making these reports publicly accessible, we can better empower military families and communities to advocate for their needs effectively.”

The Military Housing Privatization Initiative refers to reforms and authorities granted to the Department of Defense in the 1990s, allowing the privatization of military family housing on installations.

Since congressional hearings in 2019 exposed severe deficiencies in the quality and safety of on-post housing, there have been efforts to improve conditions. However, ongoing issues persist at installations across Georgia, according to Warnock.

By making current quality information of military housing publicly available, military families, advocacy groups, and communities can hold local commands and housing management companies able, according to Warnock. The legislation would mandate annual, publicly accessible reports.

MORE THAN A DECADE OF I-TEAM COVERAGE:

• Ossoff returns to Fort Gordon to announce progress
• Families share stories on Fort Gordon housing problems
• Fort Gordon housing investigation could bring consequences
• Fort Gordon housing provider pleads guilty to fraud scheme
• How military families feel about housing settlement
• 10 years later, we hear from the private company that provides housing on Fort Gordon
• Mold, filth linger in Fort Gordon housing, investigators find
• U.S. Army kept in the dark about many issues, employee says
• Asking about Balfour Beatty complaints only raises more questions
• Some companies still fail to address safety issues in military housing
• Explaining the safety behind the Tenant Bill of Rights
• Housing company responds to allegations about drowning at Fort Gordon
• Mold, bugs, and safety issues put spotlight on housing provider
• GAO report shows much work to be done for private military housing
• and Part 2
• Crews demolish housing unfit for Fort Gordon service
• 8 years after reports of mold at homes, problems may still exist

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