DORAL, Fla. - U.S. Army Garrison - Miami has implemented guidelines to help servicemembers of United States Southern Command and Special Operations Command South who are facing eviction due to the foreclosure of their rental property.
The garrison can help because the Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee has authorized a change to the Joint Federal Travel Regulation, in accordance with the Housing and Economy Recovery Act of 2008. The change, signed on Aug. 8 and retroactive to July 30, allows all the services to pay for the local movement of household goods of those military members forced to move out due to a foreclosure of their rental property.
Those in the military who receive court notice of foreclosure should contact the USAG-Miami Housing Office immediately. Carlos Rodriguez, acting garrison housing chief, requests that servicemembers bring a copy of the lease, PCS orders and serve documents. The Housing Office will then prepare a request to move all the belongings of the military member and family - up to the standard permanent change of station limitations - to a new location.
Once the Garrison Manager approves the request, the service member hand carries the authorization to the Transportation Office and fills out the required forms to move the household goods at Government expense.
"This provision does not apply if the service member or their dependent is the homeowner who is being foreclosed," Rodriguez said, adding that there are other options available under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
USAG-Miami will only fund local moves for those servicemembers assigned to USSOUTHCOM and Special Operations Command South. Those assigned to other commands may contact the Housing Office for assistance, but any local move will be funded by their respective commands.
In an article in Military Times, Col. Shawn Shumake said that short sales and other actions that stop short of a foreclosure do not appear meet the statutory requirements for foreclosure assistance.
Any cases that do not follow under these guidelines will be forwarded to Department of the Army for clarification and approval or disapproval, Rodriguez said.
For more information please call the USAG-Miami Housing Office, Teresina Monroe or Rodriguez at (305) 437-2656/2664.
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