Rep. Castor Demands Action to Repair Housing for Service Members and Families at MacDill Air Force Base

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) called on the Michaels Organization and Harbor Bay at MacDill Air Force Base to immediately address hurricane damage to homes and necessary repairs for service members and their families. Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many homes remain in disrepair, leaving military families with unacceptable living conditions.

"As you are aware, MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida, is home to the 6th Air Refueling Wing and a number of additional mission partners, including U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and the 927th Air Refueling Wing," wrote Castor. "Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck two weeks apart in late September and early October and inflicted significant damage to homes and businesses across the Tampa Bay area, including MacDill. Since that time, neighbors - including service members from all branches of our military who call MacDill AFB their home - have been doing their best to get back on their feet."

Read the full letter here.

"We share Representative Castor's concern with Harbor Bay's housing service at MacDill AFB," said Maj Gen (ret) Larry Martin, President of the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance and former MacDill Wing Commander. "Our military service members need clean, safe, quality housing to enable them to accomplish their mission. They need to focus on mission readiness and do not need the added stress of being concerned about the well-being of their families or the safety of their homes. Our military families deserve transparent and responsive action not only to repair and resolve the recent hurricane damage but to improve other long-standing maintenance and customer service issues."

Castor requested answers regarding the delayed repairs, customer service issues and communication failures at Harbor Bay Housing. She emphasized the importance of adhering to the Tenant Bill of Rights, which she championed in the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), to ensure safe and well-maintained housing for military families. Additionally, Castor demanded a detailed summary of the hurricane damage, the number of displaced families and the steps being taken to restore homes and improve resiliency against future storms.

Military families at MacDill Air Force Base, home to key military units including U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command, have reported persistent issues with Harbor Bay housing, from unresolved maintenance requests to inadequate responses following natural disasters. Castor has urged Harbor Bay and Michaels Organization to provide a swift and comprehensive response and ensure that military families receive the respect and quality housing they deserve.