I-TEAM UPDATE: Army to inspect all housing, starting at Fort Gordon

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - There’s a new major development out of Washington, D.C., affecting families all over the country – and right here: The Army has agreed to conduct unit-by-unit inspections of all housing, starting with Fort. Gordon.

It’s something Sen. Jon Ossoff just confirmed in an exclusive interview with News 12′s Meredith Anderson.

Ossoff pushed hard for this after a monthslong investigation essentially made Fort Gordon the poster child for bad military housing, thanks to Balfour Beatty, the private company that manages family housing at the local post.

SIGNED LETTER TO OSSOFF:

The Georgia Democrat presented his findings at a hearing in Washington, where his report cited our I-TEAM investigation multiple times.

For more than a decade, we’ve also exposed problems like mold in homes at Fort Gordon.

SEE THE FULL OSSOFF INTERVIEW:

“What is great news for the residents of this housing on post at Fort Gordon, is that we have now secured from the army a commitment that Fort Gordon will be the first installation in the entire country to get this unit-by-unit inspection to ensure that the housing in which our service members, their spouses, and their children are living are up to the standard that they deserve,” Ossoff said.

Ossoff made sure to point out this is nowhere near the point he can or should declare victory, but this is tangible progress.

We’ve seen first-hand that families are afraid to come forward.

For every family...

Joy Viera: “Feces-filled water is dripping from our ceiling.”

Who’s publicly spoken up...

“It’s been inhalers, it’s been asthma flare-ups, it’s been skin issues.”

And spoken out...

Michaela Hall, former resident: “Shortness of breath. Scared me to death out of my sleep.”

Others had to hide...

Dozens more canceled interviews with the I-TEAM, fearing retaliation... they suffered in silence.

Meredith Anderson: “This was a major barrier that has now been broken down.”

EARLIER COVERAGE FROM NEWS 12:

• Senators hear of horrors blamed on military housing
• We asked a simple question about Balfour Beatty
• Housing problems continue with Balfour Beatty
• Fort Gordon housing investigation update
• Army moves quickly on Fort Gordon housing
• How military families feel about housing settlement
• U.S. Army kept in the dark about issues

Ossoff said: “This is about, as you know, Meredith, your team, the I-TEAM, has led long-term investigations of this because this is about military families and their health.”

Ossoff saw this first-hand in his own months-long investigation, culminating in a hearing on Capitol Hill. Fort Gordon became the national poster child for bad military housing.

“What I wanted is for the Army to come in and independently inspect all of these units. They are now going to do so after my request. Not only that, they’re going to do it first at Fort Gordon of every installation nationwide,” he said.

Meaning these inspections can and will speak for military families.

“I’ve got a 13-month-old baby daughter at home, and fearing that your small child may not be living in a safe or healthy place is something that no parent should have to deal with, let alone those who are already making huge sacrifices to defend our country,” said Ossoff.

The Army tells Ossoff it finished two investigations into Balfour Beatty at Fort Gordon. Both started the day after his hearing in D.C.

He gave us a copy of the letter where they tell him they did not find fraud, gross negligence, or evidence of data manipulation to get bonus checks. Ossoff has a copy of both investigations and his team is going through them document by document.

HOUSING REVIEW FOLLOW-UP:

HOUSING UNIT INSPECTION FOLLOW-UP:

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