U. S. Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center
Commanding Officer (Staff Symbol) U.S. Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center 444 S. E. Quincy St. Topeka, KS 66683-3591
(866) 772-8724 (785) 339-2000 For E-Gov Travel Sys (ETS) Call the hotline: 1-866-800-USCG (8724)
(785) 339-3780
Customer Care - PPC-DG-CustomerCare@uscg.mil
Web Content Manager - PPC-SMB-PPC-PD@uscg.mil
https://hcm.direct-access.uscg.mil https://e2.gov.cwtsatotravel.com/
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ALCGPSC 065/22
R 121822Z MAY 22 ALCGPSC 065/22 SUBJ: HOUSING AND PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION COMMUNICATION A. ALCGPSC 024/22 2022 Annual Review of Critical Housing Areas (CHA). 1. With the ever changing and volatile housing markets throughout the country, it is critical that local commands ensure they are providing inbound members the information needed through the welcome aboard messaging and follow-on discussion with the new command. This will assist members in making sound housing decisions. 2. The purpose of the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) program is to offset private sector housing costs for Service members living off-base on the local market economy. A. When government quarters are unavailable, BAH rates serve as an equitable allowance, helping members afford adequate rental housing near their duty location. The allowance is set based on geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status (whether or not a member has at least one dependent). The recommended communication strategy for each location should be to send out a command welcome email, followed up by a housing email. It is suggested that each location add the link to the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) BAH page to their housing message at https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bah.cfm. B. BAH rates are also based exclusively on rental markets, not home purchase markets. While members are free to use BAH for mortgage payments, BAH is not intended to track or reflect home purchase markets as they are distinct markets that fluctuate on a variety of additional factors such as individual credit history and interest rate changes. While rental and home purchase markets are correlated, it is not a one-to-one relationship; the two markets may fluctuate at different times, and at different rates, over a given period. 3. Additional information that is critical to a successful PCS transfer includes educating members on the availability of leased housing programs when their need exceeds their profile (housing requirement standards set by DoD) or they cannot locate any housing within their allowance. The Coast Guard has owned and/or leased housing options in many locations. Please visit the Housing Management website to see the locations of those housing options at https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/PSD/fs/Housing/. 4. The above website also contains links to easily contact the housing officer in the member’s new PCS location. Commands are encouraged to have inbound members contact that local representative early. 5. For those locations without government owned/leased housing options, housing referral assistance can be found at https://www.homes.mil/. 6. Commands shall ensure all members going to locations designated a critical housing area (CHA), as established in reference (a), are informed of their election opportunities and potential housing challenges, prior to departure from the current unit. 7. PSC-PSD-FS POC: Mr. Wayne Canfield (510) 437-5796. 8. Released by: RDML D.C. Barata, Commander, Personnel Service Center. The Service Center for Our Most Important Resource – Our People. 9. Internet release is authorized.