ABC News: US service members sue over allegations of mold and lead exposure in their homes

Families Sue Over Mold in Military Housing

ABC News recently did in-depth reporting on military housing and the horrible housing conditions the US service people are facing. This is leading some families to action.

Nearly 200 families in the Florida Keys are now suing Balfour Beatty, one of the largest military housing contractors, with legal support from attorney Kristina Baehr of Just Well Law, a toxic torts firm based in Austin, Texas.

“Right now, our families are being poisoned.”

The lawsuit alleges Balfour Beatty knowingly lied about repairs and left families in military housing that could cause serious health problems. The same company pleaded guilty to fraud in 2021 for falsifying maintenance records in order to collect performance bonuses from the government.

Other companies named in complaints include Liberty Military Housing and Hunt Military Communities. While the CEOs claim most families are satisfied, they acknowledge that even a 1% failure rate means hundreds of military families are living in unsafe conditions.

Military Families Affected By Toxic Exposure

At the heart of the movement are military spouses and mothers. Some say they stay quiet to protect their spouse’s career, but that silence is becoming harder to maintain.

One mother told ABC, “My number one fear throughout this has always been my husband’s career. Luckily, his command has been supportive. But this is affecting our kids.”

Families are calling on Congress and the President to renegotiate these long-term contracts and bring accountability back into military housing. They want routine inspections, clear standards, and better communication between landlords and the families they serve.

Toxic Mold In Military Housing

It's not just happening in Florida military housing. Across the country, military families are speaking out about dangerous and unlivable conditions in their privately managed homes, conditions they say are making them and their children sick. Toxic mold, lead, asbestos, and faulty repairs have turned what should be a housing benefit into a nightmare for many service members and their families.

In the ABC News report, families described symptoms ranging from nosebleeds and rashes to respiratory issues and eye inflammation. One mother said her doctor repeatedly asked: “When are you moving?” Another said, “I feel better when I go away from the house.”

These are not isolated complaints.

In a poll presented to Congress, more than half of military families surveyed reported negative housing experiences.

The Military Housing Crisis: How Privatization Led to Toxic Exposure

The roots of the crisis go back to 1996, when Congress approved the Military Housing Privatization Initiative. The goal was to improve housing faster by allowing private companies to manage and repair homes on behalf of the military. In exchange, companies were granted 50-year contracts and broad authority.

But the military became the minority stakeholder in these partnerships. That means they can’t force private landlords to make timely repairs or ensure homes meet basic health standards.

“They are fixing everything but the problem.”

Families like the Reer's in San Diego say they’ve reported mold and leaks repeatedly, only to be told repairs were complete when nothing had changed. Others described seeing contractors try to “paint over” mold or cover it with vanities. Never actually removing it.

Unsafe Military Housing Conditions

Some families have lab tests tying their symptoms directly to toxins found in their homes.

One woman told ABC that mold identified in her house matched the mold discovered in her bloodstream. She also described how her child developed jellyfish-like welts from rashes that doctors couldn’t explain.

“I’ve had to move three times since being stationed in San Diego.”

Air Force chaplain Travis Allen shared his story from Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, where he discovered mold and leaking sewer pipes under his house. The housing company had marked the repairs complete. His eye specialists couldn't explain his ongoing inflammation. Once he left the home provided by military housing, his symptoms improved.

The Bottom Line

When a military family says they feel healthier outside their home than inside it, something has gone terribly wrong. These families are not looking for luxury. They’re asking for safety. They're asking to breathe clean air, to sleep under a roof that won’t collapse, and to trust that when a repair is reported, it will actually be made.

“This is supposed to be a benefit to military service members. Instead, it’s turned into a nightmare.”

Just Well Law, led by Kristina Baehr, is helping families hold powerful corporations accountable for toxic exposure and unsafe housing. But they shouldn't have to fight alone. Reform is long overdue. And these families cannot be mission ready if their own homes are making them sick.

Watch the full ABC News Report.