Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-08) led a letter with 18 colleagues requesting that the Department of Defense (DOD) authorize an extension of the temporary increase in the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for all military branches to support servicemembers and their families amid the economic challenges of the pandemic.
The letter reads in part: “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has left the rental market with shortages and rising costs. This challenge, combined with the rising cost of housing and utilities across the United States, has led servicemembers and their families to experience higher-than-normal financial strain, threatening their livelihoods and housing security.”
In September, DOD approved a temporary increase in the BAH in 56 locations, including four locations in North Carolina. However, this temporary increase is set to expire on December 31st. Last month, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also authorized a temporary increase of the BAH in areas that have seen a 10% increase in rental costs this year. Given the impending December 31 deadline, failure to extend this increased support beyond 2021 could leave military families facing the same challenges that initially prompted the BAH increases.
Full text of the letter is available here.
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