Reductions in Coast Guard Leased Housing Can Achieve Savings

摘要

The Coast Guard leases about 4,000 housing units nationwide for its servicemembers. Costs were estimated to be about $6 million a year more than the cost of allowances its members would have been entitled to in fiscal year 1982 if they had obtained their own housing. The Coast Guard's primary justification for leasing is that government quarters are not available and obtaining adequate private housing near Coast Guard installations would create an undue financial hardship on its servicemembers. GAO found that the Coast Guard's internal surveys used to determine private housing costs overstated these costs and thereby the need for leasing. GAO is recommending that the Coast Guard rely more on the housing allowances authorized by Congress and phase out leased housing except in areas with limited housing.