Nye Announces Plan to Help Military Families Access More Affordable Housing Options
Virginia Beach, VA – September 21, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Many military families in Hampton Roads, and across the country, could have more affordable housing options under a new proposal from Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02).
Nye’s bill, the Military Families Affordable Homes Act of 2009, would enable more military personnel to apply to live in designated affordable housing communities. Current policies make it nearly impossible for even the lowest-paid enlisted personnel to meet the income requirements for such housing.
“One of the most important ways we can support our military personnel is to help them support their families,” said Congressman Glenn Nye, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee. “Right now, military personnel at most Hampton Roads bases are at a disadvantage when they apply to live in affordable housing developments. This bill will help our troops provide a good home for their families.”
Nye announced the legislation on Monday afternoon at a press conference at Tallwood Apartments, an affordable housing community in Virginia Beach. Nye was joined by Carol Berg from Operation Homefront, who discussed the challenges that military families face in finding affordable housing, and Todd Copeland, a local developer who manages several affordable housing communities and who is closely involved in the issue.
Real estate developers can receive a tax credit under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code to create and maintain rental properties with affordable rates. However, these rental units are not open to everyone. In order to live in a Section 42 affordable housing unit, an individual’s income must be below a certain level.
Most enlisted military personnel have total annual pay that is below the cutoff for Section 42 apartments. Despite this, when military personnel apply for Section 42 apartments, their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is added to their total annual pay for the purposes of calculating income – and as a result, nearly all military families are excluded.
In 2008, Congress passed a limited exception to this policy. Under this exception, only personnel stationed at nine select installations were permitted to apply for Section 42 Housing without including their BAH in their total annual pay.
Congressman Nye’s bill will extend the 2008 policy to personnel stationed at any US military installation, enabling far more military families to take advantage of affordable housing options in their communities.
