Construction companies and dealers financially shaken by the coronavirus pandemic could recoup some of their losses, if Bill Hayward gets his way. Hayward, founder and CEO of Hayward Score and CEO of Hayward Lumber, is trying to convince Congress to approve a new federal stimulus program to improve the country’s military housing.
His rationale for doing this is based on data that suggests the health of military families is in decline, because of the condition of their homes. He compiled over a decade of research on Hayward Score, an online tool that measures the impact a home has on residents’ health. The research revealed that 5% to 7% of families living in military housing have severe health problems because of their homes and 12% to 20% have moderate health problems. It also found that about 20% of military-owned homes are in such bad shape that they are slated to be torn down.
To improve their health and well-being, Hayward created the Rehome plan, which he expects would take five years and $5 billion to complete. However, by the fifth year, he estimates improvements could save the military $3.2 billion in health costs, improved productivity, reduced absenteeism, and lower energy bills. He maintains that the plan could be mobilized and completed in two years if the economy needs a post-coronavirus boost.
The plan focuses the initial effort on moving the 5% to7% of severely impacted families into homes retrofitted or built within 16 months. Another priority of the plan is transitioning the 12% to 20% of moderately affected families into homes retrofitted or built to Level 2 Healthy Home status within two years. Hayward estimates the majority of the work in military homes would involve enhancing ventilation systems, sealing leaks, improving insulation, and reducing the presence of toxic materials such as lead paint. The plan, he states, would create more than 17,000 jobs retrofitting around 200,000 military homes.
In February, Hayward traveled to Washington, D.C., and presented his plan 21 times to different legislators that sit on the Armed Services Committees and Appropriation Committees. Hayward also presented his proposal to leaders in the Pentagon interested in improving military housing.
According to Hayward, Rehome is a “shovel-ready project” and the job creation through the program would go a long way to ensuring housing remains a vibrant part of the economy.
