MILITARY HOUSING RENOVATIONS ARE EXPANDING AT SOME U.S. BASES. WHAT FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW

When something doesn’t work at home, whether it’s a malfunction or damage that needs repair, it is often a bigger problem than anyone needs it to be. In base housing problems seem to be a frequent complaint among military families. The good news is that a new round of housing upgrades is moving forward in parts of privatized military housing.

Hunt Military Communities recently announced major projects at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, and Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The big question on the minds of military families is what is actually being funded and where is it happening?

What Families Living on Base Should Know Right Now

On select military bases, these projects offer a realistic look at where military housing providers are putting money right now and what kinds of upgrades families may actually see, from roof work and HVAC replacement to flooring, cabinetry, lighting, and plumbing fixtures.

Brian Stann, Hunt Military Communities’ CEO and President says it’s the largest military housing owner, serving approximately 175,000 residents in more than 60,000 homes across Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Army, and Space Force installations.

Inside the $3.65 Million Housing Upgrade at Robins Air Force Base

The most recent project is ongoing at Robins Air Force Base. Hunt said it executed a $3.65 million capital improvement project focused on the Turner Park and Crestview neighborhoods.

According to Hunt, the work includes roof replacements on 76 residential structures, replacement of metal fascia trim, installation of 173 new HVAC systems, and full duct cleaning for homes receiving HVAC upgrades.

Hunt said construction was expected to begin within the next month and be completed later this year.

The $18.5 Million Renovation Project at Kirtland Air Force Base

At Kirtland Air Force Base, Hunt celebrated an $18.5 million renovation project covering 211 homes in the Pershing Park neighborhood in 2025.

Kirtland Air Force Base’s Public Affairs said the effort began in October 2024 and is scheduled to conclude in 2026.

Both Hunt and the base described the work as including new flooring, updated kitchen and bathroom cabinetry with granite countertops, modern plumbing fixtures, LED lighting, interior and exterior painting, and refreshed xeriscaping.

Why HVAC Replacements Are Happening at Nellis Air Force Base

At Nellis Air Force Base, Hunt invested more than $3.7 million to replace 376 HVAC systems across two neighborhoods at Nellis Family Housing.

Hunt identified those neighborhoods as Nellis Terrace, which houses 350 junior enlisted units, and The Landings, which includes 13 officer housing units.

How Military Housing Providers Are Responding to Years of Complaints

Those base-level announcements bring encouragement that privatized military housing communities are in a real reinvestment cycle. Hunt’s CEO Brian Stann, said the moment is “a massive reinvestment push” and summarized the housing system as confronting aging infrastructure and reliability gaps that affect daily life for families.

Military housing has remained under scrutiny for years. Reporting and military family lifestyle surveys still show military families facing hazards in privatized housing, including mold, pests, and water intrusion. Stann called that feedback “disheartening” while arguing it does not capture the full scope of improvements made across the industry.

Military families also now have protections in federal law. Under 10 U.S.C. § 2890, the Military Housing Privatization Initiative Tenant Bill of Rights must, at minimum, address the right to reside in a housing unit and community that meets applicable health and environmental standards and in a unit with working fixtures, appliances, and utilities. The same statute also requires the relevant housing documents to be attached to each lease agreement.

What These Renovation Projects Could Mean for Military Families

Pentagon housing oversight concerns extend beyond family housing. In a 2023 GAO report, investigators said some military barracks they reviewed posed potentially serious health and safety risks, including broken windows and inoperable fire systems, and that thousands of service members live in barracks below standards, according to officials.

That report was about barracks, not Hunt-run privatized family housing, but it helps explain why housing quality-of-life issues remain a defense-wide concern.

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