Housing Study 2.0
Great news! The 2023 Housing Study final draft is complete. Please use this link to access the full report.
In February 2023, SSMCP was awarded a $699K grant from the Department of Defense’s Office of Local Defense (OLDCC). This grant is designed to implement three key tasks from the 2022 GCP: a Military Installation Resiliency Review (MIRR), a new housing study, and a military spouse employment study. Community Cooperation (OLDCC). This grant is designed to implement three key tasks from the 2022 GCP: a Military Installation Resiliency Review (MIRR), a new housing study, and a military spouse employment study.
Why do this Study?
Quality affordable housing around JBLM is limited while the demand for housing increases due to the continued growth in the South Puget Sound. The critical question is, how can off-base housing availability and development best contribute to lowering the backlog of military family housing needs? On-base housing remains constant at 5,159 units which are habitually 97% occupied, producing a 1,000+ on-base housing waitlist. With 71% of the active duty force and a total of 87% of the JBLM workforce living off-base in JBLM’s surrounding communities, this assessment is very much needed.
This planning study is intended to document the specific purpose and need for increased cooperation, and improved processes for communications, to develop and identify various housing options. Due to rapidly appreciating market conditions, increasing rental rates, and rising mortgage interest rates, the consultant team will update the 2020 SSMCP Housing Study. The previous SSMCP Housing Study completed in 2020 used primarily 2018 and 2019 data – conditions before the global Pandemic.
The key project objective is to evaluate the state of on- and off-base housing. The grant funded ($140,000) Housing Study 2.0 is a key component of work being done by the Housing Task Force which was formed last summer.
What can be learned from Housing Study 2.0?
Who is Doing this Study?
Matrix Design Group is on contract with SSMCP to perform an update to the 2020 housing study.
How will Matrix Conduct this Study?
Where is the study at right now?
As of this article, there is a projected South Sound Community shortfall of more than 100,000 units by 2040. Additionally, rental costs increased 15% in Thurston County and 17% in Pierce County since 2020. Not surprisingly, home sale prices increased 44% in Thurston County and 36% in Pierce County since 2020. JBLM active duty in the community: 40% own, 60% rent. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is funded to cover 95% of housing & utility costs for active duty service members. Today, 75% of JBLM personnel living in the community are in single-family homes.
This housing study is expected to be complete by December 2023.