HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Hanscom officials offer ways for housing residents here to report maintenance issues in Hanscom family housing.
The installation-level process ensures residents have access to suitable on-base housing.
“The health and safety of our housing residents and their families is a leadership priority,” said Col. Chad Ellsworth, installation commander. “This is about taking care of our people.”
Hanscom leadership recently undertook actions that should lead to mitigating the health and safety concerns of housing residents following an Air Force senior leader’s memo to installation commanders that mandated a 100 percent review of military housing.
There are four neighborhoods in the housing area: Flintlock Ridge with 303 units built in 1958; Patriot Village with 49 units built in 1987; Battle Road Glenn with 207 units built in 2011; and Musket Meadows with 172 units built between 1997 and 2011.
According to Hanscom housing officials, there are 304 Air Force residents, 164 Army families, 74 Coast Guard residents, 48 Marines, 39 Navy personnel, seven members of the Guard and Reserve and 81 Department of Defense civilian employees and retirees living in housing. Fourteen homes were vacant.
Officials identified some issues during the inspection process and will now work with the privatized housing operator, the Hunt Company, to begin addressing them.
“Safe and healthy living environments for our families at Hanscom should be a given, not an option,” said Ellsworth. “Any unsafe condition or unhealthy environment is unacceptable and will be addressed as soon as possible.”
The installation commander encourages housing residents to follow these steps to report problems.
Hanscom housing residents’ first option is to report the issue directly to the Hunt Company, which is responsible for maintaining, repairing, constructing and managing the community.
Residents can do this by calling 781-861-1471. Residents may also contact the Hunt Company Housing Office at 781-896-5772.
The second option for residents to take is through the 66th Civil Engineering Housing Management Office.
“The Housing Management Office assists base residents with the handling of any disputes or concerns with the privatized housing company,” said Ellsworth. “The Housing Management Office is steadfast in their support to service members and their families.”
To contact the CE Housing Management Office, call 781-225-5639 or contact them by email at hanscom.housing.privatization@us.af.mil.
Members of the community also have the option to use Straight Talk.
“As it relates to housing maintenance, I encourage residents to first attempt to resolve any issue with the Hunt Company directly and then the Hanscom Housing Management Office,” said Ellsworth. “However if there are instances where those avenues fail to produce results, any resident should feel comfortable bringing issues to my attention.”
The Straight Talk hotline is 781-225-1380. Personnel may also provide feedback to the installation commander by email at hanscom.straighttalk@us.af.mil.
The last avenue for residents to utilize is a recently created Air Force call center.
“This call center is not a substitute for the installation level processes for initiating maintenance calls and resolving disputes through the chain of command,” wrote Col. Michael Beach, Air Force Civil Engineering Center Housing Division chief, in an email to Air Force installation commanders.
The call center’s toll free number is 1-800-482-6431.
“The 66th Air Base Group will continue to take measures to improve housing issues while creating an institutional system that ensures the health and safety of our residents and their families,” said Ellsworth.