The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Privatized military housing is making service members and their families sick at alarming rates, survey finds

Nov 25, 2025
Brandon Chappo, director of public policy at the Change the Air Foundation, and Erica Thompson, a military spouse and families' liaison, discuss alarming health issues in privatized military housing. They reveal that 75% of surveyed service members face mold and water damage, with severe health consequences like anxiety and cognitive impairments. Erica shares her family's struggles with contamination and remediation failures, while Brandon highlights the urgent need for better indoor air quality to maintain mission readiness.
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INSIGHT

Survey Fills A Critical Data Gap

  • Change the Air Foundation launched the Safe Military Housing Survey to fill gaps in data the Defense Department lacked.
  • The survey targeted health, cognitive, emotional, and financial impacts to guide Congress and the Pentagon.
ADVICE

Collect Specific Health And Financial Data

  • Ask targeted questions about health, cognition, mental health, and finances when assessing housing impacts.
  • Use those specific data points to drive policy and dispute-resolution improvements for affected families.
ANECDOTE

Family's Health Declined After Repairs

  • Erica Thompson described living in military housing with severe humidity and mold that harmed her family and pet.
  • Repairs opened walls without containment and coincided with children developing asthma, POTS, and other conditions.
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