New housing policy in effect at Yokota

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Desiree Economides
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  A new housing policy, allowing select service members to reside off-base, has been instated at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

The On-Base First Housing policy applies to new arrivals immediately and will be phased in for those service members already assigned to government quarters on Yokota. The previous housing policy required all service members to reside on-base.

"The previous policy was fiscally unsustainable, so we've had to adjust," said Col. Mark August, 374th Airlift Wing commander.

Key changes to the housing policy include:

- Accompanied military members will be authorized to reside off-base when adequate housing is not available on base within 30 days of arrival. However, waiting for personal housing preference will not authorize members to reside off-base.

- Unaccompanied military members, E-1 through E-4, will be required to live on-base.

- Unaccompanied military members, E-5 and E-6, will be authorized to live off-base when on-base occupancy rates exceed standards identified in Air Force Instruction 32-6005 Unaccompanied Housing Management.

- Unaccompanied military members, E-7 and above, will reside off-base.

The Yokota Housing Office will be contacting unaccompanied E-5s and above, currently residing in government quarters, to solicit volunteers to move off-base. Volunteers meeting necessary criteria will be given the first opportunity/authorization to move off-base and receive Overseas Housing Allowance entitlement.

"Currently, we do not have enough facilities or funding to support the more than 1,000 unaccompanied military members assigned at Yokota," said Liza Lim-Ramos, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron Capital Asset manager. "This new policy has been enacted to support those requirements, which will help both unaccompanied and military family housing facilities."

For volunteers, the cost of relocation will be at the member's expense. The names of interested members will be placed on an off-base housing waitlist and members will be contacted by the Housing Office to discuss move processes, procedures, and requirements. Individuals will be authorized to move off-base based on seniority and position on the waitlist.

For more information on the policy contact the housing office at 225-8636.