MARK R. WARNER soe BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS Wnited States Senate pe AULES AND ADMINISTRATION May 10, 2019 Mr. Philip Cowley Senior Managing Director Clark Realty Capital Companies 4401 Wilson Boulevard, Ste. 600 Arlington, Virginia 22203 Dear Mr. Cowley: Tam writing you regarding pervasive health hazards in private military housing in the ‘Commonwealth of Virginia and across the country and to request a concrete plan from Clark. Realty Capital (CRC) to tackle many of the deplorable conditions that have been documented by servicemembers and their families. ‘As you well know, CRC manages more than 2,100 homes at Fort Belvoir for Army servicemembers. A Reuters investigation from November; subsequent testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee by servicemembers, the military and the private companies; and numerous meetings and roundtables that my office has organized with the military and private companies have all highlighted a number of unacceptable problems in the Military Housing Privatization Initiative that must be addressed immediately. The status quo cannot be allowed to continue, and our military families deserve safe and healthy housing. Servicemembers and their families have raised the following problems in privatized military housing, including at housing managed by CRC: © Credentials: Maintenance providers contracted by the private military companies are frequently not qualified and/or certified to fix health hazards and other problems in housing. Servicemembers complain of superficial fixes or outright failures to fix hazards in their homes, whether that be lead hazards, mold or leaks. + Excessive Fees & Compensation: Many families have alleged that they are required to pay excessive fees and have little to no recourse to challenge the charges even when they are not at fault, Moreover, some families believe that they have no ability to demand compensation from the companies when their furnishings are ruined in their houses ~ due to leaks or mold, or when they must pay for relocation costs or hotel stays when their housing is inadequate. ‘© Air quality: Numerous families across military housing have specific concerns with air quality in their homes, with particular concern related to mold and mold spores. Many families I have spoken to report that some family members, including children, have had allergic and/or respiratory reactions to mold in their homes; we have heard from others ‘who have suffered from lead and carbon monoxide poisoning. These families have facedsignificant obstacles in getting more information and/or the resolution they need from private companies. ‘* Communication: Across the Commonwealth, we have heard concerns about a lack of transparency and inadequate communication between servicemembers and contractors about health hazards in homes, including lead and mold, the status of work orders, and the resolution of hazards. This has shown a disrespect for the needs of these families. ‘Any plan must specifically consider the concerns outlined above and also address the following questions: 1) How will you improve your communication with tenants, so that the tenants and the military services have greater transparency regarding the safety of their homes, beginning at move-in, as well as the status of work orders? Will you consider using an electronic system, with a mobile app, which would enable tenants, military service representatives and the companies to track work orders in real-time? 2) How will you better resolve disputes between CRC and the tenants themselves, whether related to disputes over damages, fees, or whether or not a problem has been adequately addressed? Will you consider creating a third-party, independent dispute resolution mechanism in coordination with the military services? 3) Can you deseribe how you will improve your mold remediation standard operating procedures and other processes to improve air quality and reduce health hazards? Will you consider offering mold inspections, as well as air quality testing to residents, especially if suggested by a medical professional? Given the absence of EPA and federal standards around mold and mold spores, will you work to implement clear standards, established by the military services to ensure healthy air quality? 4) And finally, how will you significantly improve the quality of military housing overall ~ at move-in and beyond — to ensure that families no longer struggle with mold, lead, rodent infestations, asbestos and more, so that we are not in this situation again in another seven years? ‘We must resolve these systemic issues in the military housing privatization program for the benefit of our men and women in uniform. Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. I look forward to your response by May 24, 2019. Sincerely, MWh. © Mine, MARK R. WARNER United States Senator