{"id":42512,"date":"2020-01-16T22:07:37","date_gmt":"2020-01-16T22:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/16\/navy-housing-nominee-livid-about-housing-problems\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T20:53:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T20:53:17","slug":"navy-housing-nominee-livid-about-housing-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/2020\/01\/16\/navy-housing-nominee-livid-about-housing-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy housing nominee \u2018livid\u2019 about housing problems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The retired Navy admiral who has been nominated to be in charge of Navy installations told senators he is \u201clivid\u201d about housing conditions<\/a> of some sailors and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Charles A. Williams, nominated by President Donald Trump for assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment, knows something about housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has 40 years of real estate experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williams said if he is confirmed, his first priority will be to tackle problems with Navy privatized housing. Although he needs to study the issue more, he said, \u201cI\u2019ll lay out a plan in fairly short order” during his confirmation hearing testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen some pictures of some housing that I cannot believe that any professional property manager would allow a tenant to [live in],\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m kind of livid about this because as a commanding officer, it\u2019s about taking care of our people, and we\u2019ve let them down,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This position is a critical one as the Navy addresses problems with mold, lead paint, rodent infestation and other issues that have plagued some of its privatized housing. The problems cross all branches of service<\/a>. The issue was first reported by Reuters<\/a>. Spouses <\/a>testified before lawmakers last year about their concerns about their families\u2019 health and safety, and their frustrations in getting privatized housing companies to fix problems in their houses, or to get military officials to intervene on their behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The services have taken a number of steps to address problems with delays in maintenance, and proper corrective work, and have hired more government housing staff to increase oversight of the housing at the installation level. A tenant bill of rights is pending. The recently enacted Fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act also contains a number of provisions aimed at addressing the problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williams served more than 32 years of combined active and reserve duty. While most of his real estate career has been in the commercial sector, Williams said he has owned some residential apartments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dOne standard I used when I refurbished a property, to get it ready for the next tenant was, \u2018Would I live in that property? Would I have my family live in that property?\u2019 \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The private sector has a profit motive, while military officials have the motive to take care of their people, Williams said, when asked if he has any opinions about the root cause of the problem. \u201cWe took our eye off the ball,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think they have a captive audience on a base, and more so than they do on the outside, where they have to compete. This is my take,\u201d Williams said, while adding he has a lot to learn about the current problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williams said he\u2019s worked with some of the housing companies, specifically mentioning Lincoln and Lendlease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese are professional firms. They\u2019re national, international firms. They ought to be embarrassed that this kind of property management goes on,\u201d Williams said. \u201cOur sailors shouldn\u2019t have to put up with that, and their families. I don\u2019t get it. These people are professionals. They ought to be able to manage a property, particularly an apartment building.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said he\u2019s happy to see a nominee with a background in real estate, as well as Williams Navy background. He said Williams\u2019 quick assessment about the source of the problem is accurate. The companies \u201cwere treating our service men and women like they were captives or hostages, that they didn\u2019t have to do anything good for them, because where are they going to live anyway?\u201d Kaine said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaine suggested that Williams pay attention to what the Army has done in addressing problems with privatized housing, especially in putting Gen. Gus Perna<\/a>, commanding general of the Army Materiel Command, in charge of the Army\u2019s efforts. \u201cHe\u2019s the person that the [secretary of the Army\u2019 and the service chief will hold responsible,\u201d Kaine said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t