The Defense Department has removed San Diego, Yakima, Wash., Moscow, Idaho, New Orleans, Gulfport, Miss., and Marinette, Wis., from the list of critical housing areas (CHA). As a result, service members who are transferred to those locales will no longer qualify for the typically higher basic allowance for housing (BAH) rates from previous duty stations, which are allowable in instances where on-base or off-base family housing is deemed in short supply. Service members presently stationed in those areas will retain their present BAH benefits through the duration of those tours; waivers will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Approval of BAH rates in areas of short supply is intended to fairly compensate service members who must leave their families at previous duty stations.
