Posted on Jan 26, 2022
CPL AH-64D Armament/Electrical/Avionic Systems Repairer
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We are stuck in temp lodging waiting for on base housing to be available. We are being charged $162 a day (4860.00 a month) my wife is an Active duty E3 and that is more than her whole paycheck. On base housing (Balfour Beatty) told us the soonest we can get a house is at least 45 days. My wife talked to finance and her command and was told that Vandenberg is only authorized 10 days of TLE “including the travel time from Texas” and the rest is on us…
I was Active duty Army before getting medically released back in 2019, and this just doesn’t seem right to me. If anyone who knows more about the air force/space force has any advice, I would love to hear from you.
And before any one asks why not live off base? The BAH here is 2091.00 and the average 3-4 bed rental here is “$3266 to $4260”… source “rentdata and huduser websites”
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SGM Jeff Mccloud
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What was you plan if the on post housing wait list was a year?
3-4 bed rental: do you have 2-3 kids already? Or can you get by with a 2 bedroom?
Or even 1 bedroom if you don't have kids?
Have you actually gone into Lompoc or Santa Maria to look at rentals, or did you just check two websites for "averages"?
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CPL AH-64D Armament/Electrical/Avionic Systems Repairer
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Yes I have personally looked through both Lompoc and Santa Maria, and yes I have 3 school age kids. I served for 10 years, 3 deployments, and I am familiar with the whole PCS process.
As to the question "what if on post housing wait list was a year?"
Well I will be the first to admit I failed there. I continued under the assumption that the Air/space force would take care of us, and never checked the temporary quarters prices. In the army I never had to, they were always set to the BAH of my rank.
That being said I can not drop it there. I have talked to 4 other new airmen/guardians in similar position, but without the experience of prior service advice, and all 4 were advised under direction of their leadership to take out personal loans to cover the pay discrepancy.
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SGM Jeff Mccloud
SGM Jeff Mccloud
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I see 4 options here:
1. continue to pay too much for temp lodging until a house opens
2. move out to a less expensive hotel until a house opens
3. rent something now a for a few hundred over BAH
4. you could get a job (I assume you're not working, you only mention your spouse's BAH and total pay)
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CPT Lawrence Cable
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OK, I have to ask why you need a 3-4 bedroom apartment? A quick look at Apartment Finders says that you can come up with a 2 or 3 bedroom under the BAH rate near Vandenberg. If you are non-available, that's your only choice.
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Lt Col Jim Coe
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Agree with those in this string that recommended searching for affordable housing. Talk with base housing office. They should have listings from the local area They will have a list of landlords whom you cannot or should rent from. May also have a list of “friendly” landlords. Also you’ll need to trade off commute distance and time for cost. I’m assuming you have a family that warrants a 3 or 4 bedroom home. If not plan to downsize to decrease your rent.
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