For troops facing food insecurity and high rents, Pentagon The Secretary of Defense will provide higher housing payments and find ways to fight hunger in the army Lloyd Austin Announced on Wednesday.
According to the Associated Press, Austin told reporters that the military is already worried enough that “basic necessities such as food and housing should not be among them.”
According to estimates that support the United States, as many as 160,000 active-duty military personnel find it difficult to support their families. The organization is responsible for coordinating the work of more than 200 food banks across the country. It is estimated that 29% of the lowest-ranking soldiers experienced food insecurity in the past year.
Austin said the department will temporarily provide higher housing subsidies for troops living in areas where rents have increased by at least 10% this year. According to the Associated Press, compensation for temporary accommodation will be extended for those who move into areas with a shortage of housing.
Austin said that the vice minister of personnel has 90 days to develop a long-term strategy.
The exact scope of the topic of the debate, because there is no formal research. However, activists said that this is not new, and it mainly affects junior enlisted soldiers with children, grades E1 to E4.
Lower-ranking soldiers have very little income, and frequent relocations make it difficult for spouses to find stable jobs. A regulation from the Ministry of Agriculture restricts access to the SNAP government assistance program (commonly called food stamps) for thousands of impoverished military families, exacerbating the problem.
Soldiers who do not live on the base can receive housing subsidies. The allowance is counted as income when calculating eligibility for food stamps. The extra allowance is usually enough to prevent families from qualifying for food stamps. However, other federal programs do not count housing payments as income.
For more reports from the Associated Press, please see below.
Gregory Bull/Associated Press Photo
Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a former Black Hawk pilot who lost his legs in a helicopter crash in Iraq, initiated a bill that would provide families in need of military personnel Provide basic needs allowance.
Representative James McGovern (James McGovern) has sought the Pentagon to study the issue and repeal the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s basic housing allowance regulations.
In addition to immediate actions, Austin stated in a memo that the department should study other steps to improve the stability of service personnel. They will include extending the travel time of troops deployed to certain locations overseas when accompanied by their families.
He said that, where possible, the Department of Defense should consider extending the three-year time limit for missions at bases in the United States.
Austin also said that the Pentagon should take measures to improve financial education and consulting for the military.
