ALCOAST 072/20 - MAR 2020 COAST GUARD SAFE HOMES INITIATIVE

R 061410 MAR 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCMS-DMR/DCMS-DPR//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N11101//
ALCOAST 072/20
COMDTNOTE 11101
SUBJ:  COAST GUARD SAFE HOMES INITIATIVE
A. Coast Guard Safety and Environmental Health Manual, COMDTINST M5100.47 (series)
B. Coast Guard Housing Manual, COMDTINST M11101.13 (series)
C. Coast Guard Pay Manual, COMDTINST M7220.29 (series)
1. In 2019 the Coast Guard launched the Safe Homes Initiative - a service-wide effort to
ensure Coast Guard housing is compliant with federal environmental health standards, which now
includes new standards for lead-based dust that took effect in January, 2020. Early efforts
included analysis of existing housing documentation and identification of homes that might be
at-risk of not meeting the federal environmental health standards. The Coast Guard is now
completing state-certified risk assessments on all homes built before 1979 (lead containing
paint regulations were strengthened in 1978). While we expect that most housing units will
comply with new federal standards, a bias for safety dictates we test and document all homes
to establish a baseline for compliance with current and future regulations. The Coast Guard
will take timely and appropriate action to address any findings above the new 2020 lead
thresholds. As described in REF (A), only children under the age of seven, and pregnant women
are at risk if lead thresholds are exceeded.
2. The Coast Guard is doing everything possible to expedite the state-certified risk assessment
process on the more than 1,200 pre-1979 homes in our inventory.
3. Families currently assigned to pre-1979 Coast Guard owned housing will be notified in
advance of their scheduled assessment so disruptions can be minimized. Once the Coast Guard
receives and reviews the results of the assessment, the Area Housing Authorities will share
that information with families along with information about corrective actions if any are
necessary. Funding has been identified to support completion of the state-certified risk
assessments this year.
4. Per REF (A) an at-risk family is defined as one with a pregnant female, or a child under
the age of seven. At-risk families who are currently occupying pre-1979 Coast Guard owned
housing which have not yet been assessed will not be relocated but may request a release from
housing to live on the economy in accordance with REF (B). Each request for release will
be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Area Housing Authority who has the greatest
latitude given all relevant variables.
5. Families who are not at-risk will continue to be assigned to available and adequate Coast
Guard owned housing.
6. At-risk families may be administratively assigned to pre-1979 homes but will not be allowed
to move in unless the home has been assessed and determined to be in compliance with the 2020
standards. This decision was made to eliminate the possibility that a family would move into
an unassessed home and then be required to relocate a short time later, due to findings from
a risk assessment. Because of this policy, some homes may remain vacant after the transfer
season even though surrounding homes continue to be occupied by families who were assigned
in prior years. If you are an at-risk family, and adequate Coast Guard owned housing is not
readily available at your new duty station, local housing officers will work to accommodate
your situation. This could include a release from housing to live on the economy or acquiring
government leased housing if available. In accordance with REF (C), members with dependents
may be eligible for housing assignment flexibility under the Family Stability Act. Some of
these options include continuation of housing for the spouse and other dependents at the
previous permanent duty station (PDS), temporary use of government owned or leased single-
type housing intended for members without a spouse or dependent, and/or equitable BAH.
7. Our goal is to provide you with timely support and accurate information throughout this
process. We continue to post updates on the Coast Guard’s Safe Homes Initiative website, at:
https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Safe-Homes-Initiative/.
8. For those transferring this summer, it is critical that you contact your local housing
officer at your new duty station as soon as you receive orders to check the availability of
appropriate housing in that area. This is especially important if you belong to an at-risk
family. CG PSC-EPM-2 is fully engaged in the AY20 assignment process and is actively monitoring
and communicating with impacted units and members in receipt of PCS orders.
9. Members who believe they are eligible for flexibility under the Family Stability Act must
submit the Family Stability Act Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)/Housing Worksheet, CG-
7220H to CG PSC. If a member is not eligible for the Family Stability Act, they may submit a
BAH protection memo to COMDT (CG-1332) to request delayed dependent travel to the new
duty station and continued receipt of BAH for their previous PDS or dependent location. The
BAH protection will remain in effect until the effective date that adequate Coast Guard owned
or community based housing becomes available. The memo Subject line should contain COAST GUARD
SAFE HOMES INITIATIVE and may be forwarded to Compensation@uscg.mil.
10. Transparency and effective communications are imperative throughout this process and we
welcome your questions to the Safe Homes website e-mail address monitored daily by Coast
Guard Headquarters housing staff at HQS-SMB-CG-Housing@uscg.mil.
11. RADM J.M. Vojvodich, Deputy for Material Readiness, and RADM P.F. Thomas, Deputy
for Personnel Readiness, send.
12. Internet release is authorized.