Housing office hosts open house, spreads important information for PCS season

Photo By Lt.Cmdr. Jim Remington | Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) has many on-base family housing units available, which are open to all military service branches, as well as Defense Department civilians in some circumstances. Wait times vary depending on a service member’s rank and the time of year.  

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

06.10.2015

Story by Lt.Cmdr. Jim Remington 

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) Housing Office hosted an open house June 10 to showcase services available to military families.

According to Housing Office Director, Iris Jones, the open house was scheduled to coincide with the start of the busy permanent change of station (PCS) season, which typically runs from late spring through September - when military children are in between school years.

However, in addition to new families, Jones also wanted to make current JBAB residents aware of the various programs offered by the housing office, such as the realtor program. The realtor program brings volunteer realtors on base to answer questions or concerns military families may have about buying a home before they enter the off-base housing market.

“We also have the Renters Partnership Program (RPP),” said Jones. “[It] is designed to help military members find safe and affordable housing. It helps with move-in inspections. It waives security deposits and helps with friendly terms to help out our military members. We also offer counseling and seminars for those who would like assistance with the process of finding housing.”

The program includes more than 27 property management companies across Washington, Maryland and Virginia involving 47,000 apartments, townhouses, and single family homes. Jones said that many of the RPP program offerings can be viewed online as well.

JBAB also has many on-base family housing units available, often on a waiting list, with both Hunt and Lincoln who service all branches of the military, as well as Defense Department civilians in some circumstances. The wait times vary depending on a service member’s rank and the time of year. Late spring through September see the longest waits.

Andrea Gustafson, a Navy spouse who moved onto the base in the past two weeks following a permanent change of station move from Naples, Italy, said her family’s housing arrangements went smoothly. Her husband, Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Gustafson, received a letter of intent from his detailer stating that Gustafson and his family would be proceeding to an assignment in the National Capital Region. This letter allowed him to put his name on the waiting list even before he had received an official set of orders. That process worked out almost perfectly in terms of timing.

“They actually sent us an e-mail saying we were good for a move-in appointment on May 25, but we knew we weren’t going to arrive until June 1, so they moved the meeting until June 2. So on the morning of June 2, we met at the housing office, drove to the house for a quick tour of the house, and then back to the housing office to do the paperwork for the lease. The whole process was probably over in an hour. We actually received the first storage shipment that afternoon,” Andrea said.

She said her experience has been excellent so far. There were a couple of repair issues she had to call in initially, but they were repaired the next day.

Daniel Dunham, JBAB’s school liaison officer, was also present at the open house to speak with attendees about what he and the base offer in the way of resources and services to the military population that calls the installation home. He is prepared to assist interested families with information and counsel about public and private school options, busing and home schooling. In each case, he has current knowledge, forms, and the resources necessary to help. Dunham is well versed in not only the schooling and bussing options, but he is also familiar with the various application requirements and deadlines associated with each of these. The best option is to contact him at his office by telephone at 202-433-2566 to set up an appointment. He generally schedules these appointments Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

For those who intend to home school, parents or guardians need to submit a notification form of the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. The form can be found online, but Dunham said he has the form readily available for e-mailing so anyone who would like it may contact him at his office for a copy and to answer any other questions about the particularly requirements and standards for home schooling in the District of Columbia.

For more information, contact the JBAB Housing Office at 202-404-1840 or by e-mail at [e-mail]. More housing information is also available on the JBAB Warfighter and Family Readiness website, www.mywfr.com.

• Date Taken: 06.10.2015
• Date Posted: 09.25.2015 07:20
• Story ID: 177183
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US