Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia's (EURAFSWA) housing line of operation strengthens U.S. and allied forces by providing vital services to EURAFSWA's people.

The program's mission is to achieve and sustain services that enhance quality of life, foster a sense of community, and contribute to the readiness of the "Fleet, Fighter, and Family."

As a ship provides housing services for the crew as one of its lines of operation, Region EURAFSWA installations provide the same services and capabilities to the fleet, joint, and allied forces through the eight lines of operation. The eight lines of operation are: housing, air operations, port operations, safety, security, MWR, Fleet and Family Services, and the core: the fuels, water, and power for the bases. Through these lines, Region EURAFSWA's installations are force multipliers that maximize combat capability of operational units.

"Region Housing primarily acts as a liaison between Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) headquarters and the installations," said Suzanne Mannschreck, housing director for Navy Region EURAFSWA. "We act as a conduit for our budgets. Housing has a lot of reporting requirements that feed into our budgets that we coordinate with the installations and submit to CNIC. We also coordinate with Navy Facilities Engineering Command on maintenance and repair projects."

The Housing Department includes Family and Bachelor Housing, Housing Service Centers (HSCs), and Navy Gateway Inns and Suites (NGIS).

The HSCs provide the support needed to find quality residences, on and off base. The staff assists service members and their families in home searches, viewings, provides translation services for housing issues such as a bilingual lease, and provides support throughout the service member's tour of duty. The HSC staff is qualified to provide professional guidance in the home-finding experience and mediation with landlords if needed. The staff also issues guidance on locating desirable homes and neighborhoods and assists in matching the service member's priorities with the available choices.

"The housing staff of the Housing Service Centers is the lead in providing information regarding housing options, whether in person, by telephone, or by email, to all incoming and outgoing
Members," said Billie Patel, Region EURAFSWA's unaccompanied housing program manager. "HSC's are proactive in their efforts to communicate current, up-to-date housing information to all eligible personnel."

Privatized family housing communities provide the opportunity to live in a predominantly military community through a partnership between the Navy and a private sector management company. This approach provides a property management staff to respond to day-to-day maintenance and operations, while teaming with the HSC staff to provide advocacy services and support. Active duty military personnel with dependents are the primary residents of family privatized housing.

Region Housing is responsible for the overall management of barracks and facilities operations, and public works organizations are responsible for the physical construction and renovation of these buildings. Navy Housing and public works collaborate to assure newly-constructed buildings and renovations meet Navy requirements, and are outfitted with furnishings, fixtures, and equipment to meet Sailors' needs.

NGIS provides visitor lodging at each installation, and their slogan is, "Creating comfortable guest services for those we serve ... today and tomorrow." They support the fleet, fighter and family by providing facilities, lodging and services for a mobile military community.

Navy Lodge is the official government lodging when traveling on orders. The Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) requires a certificate of non-availability (CNA) when space is unavailable at a Navy Lodge. Navy Lodges are located around the world at most naval bases. Due to base restrictions, not all Navy Lodges are able to be pet friendly.

"As housing program managers, our mission is to assist service members with finding suitable, affordable and safe housing wherever they live around the world," said Patel.

Navy Region EURAFSWA provides all the operational platforms ashore that enable U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability throughout Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia.

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For more news from Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, visit http://www.navy.mil/.