MHAFB welcomes housing privatization

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alyssa C. Wallace
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC, is slated to begin the privatization of Mountain Home military family housing Aug. 1.

BBC is responsible for the development, renovation, operation and management of military housing privatization projects for the Departments of the Air Force, Army and Navy.

Millions of dollars will go into MHAFB's developmental project, during which BBC is scheduled to demolish 371 homes, build 60 and renovate three. Other community enhancements including walking trails, sand volleyball courts, a soccer field and a community center complete with a business center, meeting rooms, and physical fitness, media and game areas.

"Housing privatization is an initiative that began in the mid 1990s to ensure Airmen received upgraded housing during decreasing budgets," said PJ Brown, installation management flight chief. "The partnership between the government and the privatization owner is a win-win. We are partners with BBC and will be jointly located in our housing office. You will see both government and BBC staff in the office, working side-by-side to ensure the residents receive the best customer service available."

Before privatization begins, current on-base residents will be required to either sign a tenant lease agreement to live in privatized housing or move off base at the government's expense. Gunfighters who stay in base housing:

· Must sign a lease contract. Contract will include renter's insurance at no additional cost and a military clause.
· Will pay rent based on the basic allowance for housing for their rank minus 110 percent of the average cost of gas and electric for the type of unit they occupy. For military married to military, senior grade member's with dependent rate BAH will be used while the junior grade member will receive their full BAH. Utilities will be included within the initial rent amount.
· Must change special powers of attorney to state, "Privatized Housing".
· Will not be required to pay a security deposit, cut grass outside fenced areas or remove snow from sidewalks and driveways.

Those who wish to move off base must be cleared out of housing before Aug. 1.

Members of the BBC are looking forward to serving the Gunfighter community.

"Our team is very excited to be here and we're very excited to get started on all of this - it's been a long time coming," said BBC's Dan Frederick. "We're looking forward to the opportunity to come and form a great partnership between us and the Air Force. Other privatization projects we're on have gone very smoothly - we have a great partnership and relationship with the Air Force, and that's key in moving these deals forward and making them successful. We look forward to doing that here as well."

For more information on privatization visit http://www.mountainhome.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130711-038.pdf or call (208) 828-2781.