2018 MHAFB housing status

  • Published
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Privatized family housing at Mountain Home Air Force Base is currently exceeding 97%, while occupancy in the base dormitories is exceeding 98%, numbers the base hasn’t reached in over five years.

This issue is compounded by the lack of available rentals off base in the local area.

“We are going to do everything we can to ensure incoming Airmen have a quality place to stay when they arrive,” said Tim Farmer, chief of housing management.

With the base and local area filling up, the housing office is doing all it can to ensure that Airmen have a quality home.

“I am the liaison between the military members and the property managers,” said Gloria Valdez, housing referral specialist. “I do referrals for military members downtown. I go and I inspect units downtown to ensure it is adequate to move into.”

The housing office supplies Airmen with local listings to help find a suitable home.

“I think the future will get better,” Valdez said. “Recently, I’ve had 25 to 26 rentals available every day including one new one in Boise.”

The construction of 40 new units in Mountain Home is a good sign.

“The units could be ready in the fall of 2018,” Farmer said. “We’ll see if this meets the demand of the market.”

The Basic Allowance for Housing was recently reevaluated and will rise by an average of 13 percent in 2018 after adding parts of Boise to the BAH market area.

“We have approximately 500 Airmen living in the Boise area,” Farmer said. “A raise will help with their expenses.”

Farmer doesn’t see any change in the amount of incoming Airmen in the immediate future.

“I don’t see it slowing down any time soon,” Farmer said. “As long as the Air Force continues to stabilize we can project similar numbers for the future.”

The housing office recommends calling them the moment Airmen receive orders. This is one step to ensuring accommodations are set up when they arrive. Airmen should also stay in contact with their sponsors to make sure they receive any new information.

For more information on housing availability or how to apply for housing, contact the housing office at 208-828-2781.