My husband and I and our 8 month old daughter have to be at Fort Lewis, WA on the 19th of November. We don't have a whole lot of money to move on since he just got done with his training. We just found out he will be in in-proccessing for 10 days or more, and meanwhile, our daugther and I will have to stay alone in a hotel and try to find an apartment. Can we secure an apartment before we move there? I know we have to contact the housing authority at the base before any leases are signed, etc. But what would be the best option for us? It will be financially straining enough to pay the first month's rent plus deposit, and if we have to pay for a hotel for however long it takes us to find a place, it will end up being the amount we could have spent to move into an apartment! What should we do? Are we allowed to do this? We thought about getting a credit card, but we have a few small blemishes on our credit history that only allows us to have a small credit limit and it isn't worth it.
2006-10-31 07:00:35 · 7 answers · asked by .*AnNa*. 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Your hubby can get advanced travel pay.
2006-10-31 07:02:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you try to get on base housing? They don't require a deposit. There may be a waiting list but I have found that most people that are really in need of a house, they can find housing for. Have your husband talk to his command. They can help him. Also if you do decide to move into an apartment, sometime the military member can request an advancement in pay which you could use for your deposit or moving expenses. Also check for on base hotels that are usually much much cheaper and most likey closer for him to get to work.
2006-10-31 07:28:01 · answer #2 · answered by usmcspouse 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the 10 days are for inproccessing and for finding housing.
i have never heard from any post that you get put on the waiting list prior to arrival.Some may let you register online www.onestop.army.mil (go through the links).
There you can find out how long the waiting times are\,see pics of housing etc.
If you can get housing right away i would consider moving on post then you don`t have to worry about deposits etc.
You can apply for a interest free loan from the army if you need money for hotel,deposit etc,
don`t forget to visit your WIC office on post helps with your shopping bill.
To fort Lewis .....
I think you are lucky to get your first duty station there its nice there.Have fun at fort Lewis!!
2006-10-31 19:34:06 · answer #3 · answered by Sunshine 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all -- instead of staying in a hotel -- why can't your husband do some of this work in advance -- contact housing office, put his name on the wait list for family housing (which he can do since he already has orders), you can call Housing and get listings of Available Apartments in the area, call Family Services to find out what else is available, etc.
Coming from a Long Term Single Parent (while on Active Duty -- was Single for about half my Military Career, the rest of the time was short disaster of marriage, then Single Parent on Active Duty to TWO disabled Children) ... here is what I know:
HE (YOUR HUSBAND) needs to call out to Housing Officer, and PUT his Name, Rank, other Info on the Family Housing Wait List. Depending on how many are on the list for the rank he is ... you could either have a unit available shortly after he arrives, or have to wait a few months.
Secondly: WHY are you going with him? YOU have the option to wait where you are at (maybe at your parent's home) and then come out AFTER he has housing available -- this is perfectly permissable -- you don't always HAVE to travel with your Active Duty Spouse (and I did this when I needed to secure housing as a Single Parent -- went on ahead ... did what I needed to in order to purchase housing or rent, THEN I went back on leave to get my dependents to the new Duty Station.
He needs to start doing the asking of the questions. YOU need to contact (with his orders, which includes order number and report date, as well as his assignment information) Family Services and Housing too. ONLY HE can register for Family Housing -- since it is HIS entitlement.
I do NOT recommend Credit Cards -- too many young troops that I supervised got into too much financial problems with credit cards, which also gets them into problems with the UCMJ.
SO work with these suggestions -- you will save on hotel costs -- and that will help. Remember, he will get a few days when he reports in to secure housing, get things in order, inprocess, etc. And that is when he NEEDS to do his Family Stuff as well.
2006-10-31 07:17:43 · answer #4 · answered by sglmom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Advance travel pay.
Plus you might be able to get help with moving in money thru Army Emergency Relief. You'd probably have to pay it back - I believe they will let you pay it off over a years time.
Don't worry so much - if you're careful you'll actually make money on the move.
2006-10-31 07:06:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can probably get some relocation $ from Army Relief. Save what you can between now and then and hopefully you will be able to get some assistance from the army! Good luck!
2006-10-31 07:16:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
?
2006-10-31 07:04:33 · answer #7 · answered by Taco 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋