U.S. military officers will inspect family housing complexes throughout Europe in the next month following a Reuters report detailing hazardous and squalid living conditions in privatized military housing in the U.S., Stars and Stripes reports.
Reuters found dangerous lead levels and cases of childhood poisoning on several U.S. Army bases and said Army clinics were often failing to report high test results to state health authorities as required.
Additionally, servicemembers and their families were living in housing with black mold, vermin infestations, flooding, radon, and faulty wiring, and said their complaints were met with resistance.
Since 1996, 99 percent of on-base housing has been privatized.
Officers in Europe will ask tenants whether they are satisfied with the health and safety of their home and if they have any work requests that have not been fulfilled.
"We will hold our chain of command and private contractors accountable to ensure they are meeting their obligations to provide safe, high-quality family housing," Army Secretary Mark T. Esper and Gen. Mark A. Milley, Army chief of staff, said in a joint statement last week, according to Stars and Stripes.
The majority of housing overseas, though, will not be checked as many tenants live in privately leased houses and apartments.
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