"Since 1966, HAP has assisted service member and civilian employee homeowners when their home values declined because base closure or realignment announcements caused decline in real estate markets."
The President recently signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which contains funding of $555 million, and authorizes expansion of HAP to three homeowner groups:
BRAC05 for service members and civilian employees – temporary program expansion removes requirement for proof of the causal relationship between the BRAC announcement and the real estate market decline. Expanded BRAC HAP benefits have a sunset clause of 2012, or earlier if designated by the Secretary.
Warriors in Transition for (30% or greater DoD disability rating) and surviving spouses of fallen warriors. This is a permanent program expansion.
Service members under a military-directed permanent change of station during the downturn of the housing market. Expanded PCS HAP benefits have a sunset clause of 2012, or earlier if designated by the Secretary.
The HAP was initiated by the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (as amended) to provide partial financial relief to service member and civilian employee homeowners whose homes decline in value when a base closure or realignment causes a market decline, and homeowners are unable to sell under reasonable terms or conditions. The law required proof that a market decline was caused by a DOD announcement of closure or realignment. The HAP is a Defense program; the Secretary of the Army is the program executive agent, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers executes the program.
Headquarters, US Army Corps of Engineers is working with the Army, other military services, and Department of Defense staffs to develop implementing policy guidance.
CLICK HERE FOR DoD HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HAP)
Civilian Employee - Defense National Relocation Program (DNRP)
The DNRP is a civilian employee relocation service authorized under 5 USC 5724, implemented under the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), Volume 2, Chapter 5, and executed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a result of Defense Management Report Decision (DMRD 974). DNRP provides relocation services to eligible DoD civilian employees so they may quickly and efficiently sell their homes at the prior duty station and locate housing appropriate to their needs at the new duty station.
DNRP services are authorized by the activity issuing PCS orders to the relocating employee.
Eligible Army employees include the following groups:
- Employees moving into or out of Senior Executive Service (SES) positions.
- Employees moving under provisions of mandatory mobility agreement
- Employees moving as a result of a management directed action such as a Reduction-in-Force (RIF), transfer of function, BRAC, or PPP placement.
DNRP services include counseling services for the employees, home marketing assistance and a guaranteed buyout offer to purchase the employee’s residence at the prior duty station, and home search assistance and mortgage counseling at the new duty station.
If you are a BRAC-affected transferring employee utilizing DNRP services, the DNRP counselor will review HAP eligibility guidelines with you and will refer you to HAP if you qualify for HAP benefits. If you are a BRAC affected employee and have already utilized and completed DNRP services, you may be eligible under HAP’s expanded benefits.
If you are an employee of a DoD agency that does not authorize relocation services under this program, but are moving or have moved as a result of BRAC 2005, you may be eligible under HAP.