I am a contractor looking to arrive to japan in the near future and wondering about housing (on base)... I will be working in Yokosuka and I am familiar with the area so we would like to live in Ikego, but Negishi would also work... I have 3 children ranging from a baby to 11 (going on 12) year old.... Would moving on base be possible for me? I am told that I am an O-4 equivalent for housing (at least for my LQA), does this qualify me?

How long would the wait be for housing? And what areas is it possible for me to move into (most likely looking for 4 bedroom)

Thanks!

My husband is a contractor also, and we have lived in Japan 5-1/2 yrs. My husband is equivilant to an 0-6. From my understanding only Active duty and Cival Service can live on base. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. IF they do allow contractors though, you will probably be bottom of the list as Active duty and Cival Service will probably get first priority.

http://www.cnic.navy.mil/Yokosuka/F.../index.htm

(6) Contractor personnel accompanied with bona fide family members who will reside with the sponsor for nine consecutive months or more each year during the sponsor's tour and command sponsored, may be provided MFH when surplus assets are available or under special priority situations as determined by COMFLEACT Yokosuka. Contract personnel shall pay the established rental and utility rates for MFH. Assignments to MFH may be terminated after five consecutive years.

I know you can do this at Yokota at least on a shorter term basis but have never heard of it being authorized at Yokosuka. Strange given that Ikego and Negishi are 1/3 empty. Which begs another question: why is Uncle Sam authorizing $ for off-base housing when that is the case. Doesn't make much sense.

Posted By NichiBeiOne on 05-17-2012 6:35 AM
...Which begs another question: why is Uncle Sam authorizing $ for off-base housing when that is the case. Doesn't make much sense.

This is why at Yokota, it's now become mandatory to live on base. It really isn't a wise use of our tax dollars to pay housing allowance to live off base, which housing is readily available on base.  It sucks for those who really prefer living on the economy.  If Navy has housing like 1/3 empty, it's a matter of time before budget pressures will make them force people to live there.

PlzNoSpam - I don't know about 4 bedrooms, but we have a contractor who is currently living with his family in Negishi. He didn't have much of a wait.

It's funny how the worm turns. When I lived in the vicinity of Yokota ~18 years ago there was a severe shortage of housing on base. The combo of a bunch of new towers and a drop in the base population and you can now rent 3 br apts by the month there.

While I totally understand why people would want to live off base it is unconscionable that base housing is not full to the rafters. It's not like this is a new phenomena at CFAY: Negishi has been running about 40% empty for years. It seems Ikego has never been anywhare close to capacity. It's very hard to justify maintaining it as a naval facility, really. My opinion is CFAY should either use it or lose it. Isn't the average stipend for off base housing about $3,500/momth or so?