US Navy seeks private sector solutions for temporary housing during barracks renovations

The U.S. Navy is turning to the private sector to address a critical shortage of temporary housing as it undertakes major renovations of barracks and vacates service members from outdated living quarters.

In a Request for Information (RFI) published on Friday, the Navy asked industry partners to propose solutions for providing several thousand temporary beds—referred to as "swing space"—for unaccompanied sailors who will need alternative accommodations while their barracks are modernized.

"Improving living conditions is a top priority for the Navy, but comprehensive upgrades require significant structural work," the service said in an emailed statement. "Utilizing temporary housing, which are often referred to as swing space, is a critical step. It allows the Navy to proceed with massive construction projects on schedule while ensuring Sailors are not displaced into subpar accommodations during the transition."

The RFI lists potential housing options, including:

• Prefabricated units
• Containerized units
• RVs
• Leased commercial apartments
• Hotels
• Houseboats
• Other innovative solutions

Broader Push for Better Living Conditions

Ensuring service members have quality housing has become a top priority across the Department of Defense.

• October 2025: The military established the Barracks Task Force to address unaccompanied housing requirements and improve living conditions across all services.
• December 2025: The Navy announced it was directing $375 million from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act toward barracks improvements at 56 installations.
• January 2026: Naval Support Activity Bahrain began a $15.8 million unaccompanied housing modernization project.
• May 2026: The Pentagon proposed a $26.8 billion military construction budget for fiscal year 2027, including $21.5 billion for barracks across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force—an investment aimed at addressing long-deferred maintenance and repairs.

Leadership Engagement

Navy leadership continues to prioritize housing improvements. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao recently toured barracks at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where he spoke with sailors and Marines and observed unaccompanied housing modernization efforts.

Riley Ceder is a reporter at Military Times, covering breaking news, criminal justice, investigations, and cyber. He previously worked as an investigative practicum student at The Washington Post, where he contributed to the "Abused by the Badge" investigation.