Potential housing allowance for 2012 Published Sept. 15, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Jessica McConnell Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- A base allowance for housing rate determination team is scheduled to visit the base to consider potential increases to BAH rates for Minot Airmen during 2012. With housing already difficult to find due to the oil boom, and the flood damaging more than 4,100 homes, many Airmen have found themselves staying with friends, living in recreational campers, or moving from hotel to hotel. Officials also expect lease and rental rates to increase even more due to the decrease in housing availability. In an effort to assist Airmen with projected increased housing rates, the Air Force is re-evaluating the amount of BAH active duty members qualify for. To increase BAH, proof must be shown to justify an increase. "We need people to send in any and all documents showing how their rates have increased," said Lt. Col. Randall Morris, 5th Mission Support Group commander. "The housing office needs to see copies of past and present documents, including lease and rental agreements." The Minot AFB housing office is asking members renting in the local community to please collect the relevant paperwork, such as lease agreements, rent increase notifications, or any other documentation that demonstrates proof of increases, both past and future, and provide copies to the housing office. Also, members are encouraged to provide information on the entire amount due every month, not just a portion, in order to accurately capture the data. For example, if three Airmen are living in a house and split the rent of $1,500 a month three ways, each individual Airman would not send information saying they only pay $500 a month to rent their house. Each individual Airman would submit documents stating that the rent of their home is $1,500 a month. The information may be hand-delivered to the housing office Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or sent electronically to their organization box, 5ces.ceach@minot.af.mil, by close of business on Sunday, Sept. 18. All emails must be received no later than 6 p.m. on Sept. 18. All Airmen living off base are highly encouraged to participate in this survey in order to increase BAH rates. For any questions regarding this survey, please contact the housing office at 723-6429.