Town Hall meeting on base housing privatization

  • Published
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Corvias Military Living is partnering with the 4th Fighter Wing to ensure Seymour Johnson Airmen and families are prepared when privatization of family housing begins on July 1.

To ensure housing residents have all the information they need, there will be a Town Hall meeting for current family housing residents, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the base theater. A second Town Hall meeting will be held May 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the base theater. 'The Town Hall meetings will give Air Force families an opportunity to learn about Corvias and the transition to privatized family housing," said Sharon Shores, Corvias Military Living program manager. "This is a fantastic time to be living on base, and we want to make sure our families are informed about the positive aspects Corvias is bringing to the installation."

During the town hall meeting, Corvias representatives will join Col. Jeannie Leavitt, 4th FW commander and wing housing management personnel, in presenting information about housing policies, maintenance services and plans for constructing community amenities and home improvements. They will also provide residents with information about the Resident Occupancy Agreement (ROA), the military-friendly lease, which must be signed to live in privatized family housing.

The Air Force selected Corvias Military Living, formerly Picerne Military Housing, to privatize housing after a competitive solicitation process led by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC). The company will be responsible for the construction, renovation, maintenance and management of Seymour Johnson AFB military family housing for 50 years.

"Housing privatization allows the Air Force to provide high quality homes and communities to our service members more quickly than ever before and at a significant savings to the taxpayer," said Buck Abrams, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron installation management flight chief. "Corvias will provide modern amenities to ensure we maintain a vibrant and energetic community for our military families to live and play."

Base residents can expect to see great improvements in the coming years, including a state-of-the-art community center and pool. "I truly believe with the improvements we will see through housing privatization, our community will be one where our military members will desire to live," Abrams said.

Seymour Johnson AFB is one of six total Air Force installations that will be part of the Continental Group Housing Privatization project set to begin in 2013.

The Air Force has successfully privatized housing at more than 40 locations to date as part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI). Approved by Congress in 1996, MHPI is designed and developed to attract private-sector financing, expertise and innovation to provide improved housing faster and more efficiently than traditional Military Construction (MILCON) processes. In addition, housing privatization under MHPI increases the availability of high-quality, affordable housing options for Service members.

"Our military deserves the best possible housing," Shores added. "That's why we are making a 50-year commitment to ensure that our Air Force families enjoy well maintained and comfortable homes and communities for many, many years to come."

For more information about Corvias Military Living, visit www.CorviasMilitaryLiving.com.