Homeowners’ Assistance Expanded

DoD has announced terms of an expanded homeowners’ assistance program that benefits civilian employees there under certain circumstances, following an increase in funding for the program under the economic stimulus law enacted earlier this year. The program provides for partial reimbursement for losses on the sale of a primary residence following job relocations. The program will provide benefits in the following priority order: wounded service members relocating for treatment or medical retirement and survivors of those who died while deployed; both military and civilian personnel affected by the current base closure round, regardless of whether the closings caused a local housing market decline; and military and civilian personnel who suffer home losses because of a transfer. The program provides for reimbursements at various rates depending on the circumstances and allows for the government to purchase the individual’s home in some cases if the person can’t sell it.