My husband is going to A-school in Petaluma on January 14 (straight out of bootcamp). I know that it's one of the few schools that lets family members accompany students.
I've been looking at the prices of housing and let me tell you... it's unbelievable. I know if we live off base, we get BAH, but it's still going to cost like $3000 between security deposit and first and last months rent.

Since there are so few students there who are allowed to have families come with them, is it tough to get in the on base housing?
What are the steps we have to take?

I just don't know if it's fiscally responsible to move out there with him for 6 months if we have to shell out so much cash to get a place to live.

Oy.

Pretty please help!

Blessings,
Crystal

Back when I went to "A" school in Petaluma, only certain rates, with 6month or longer school, were aload to be accompanied. That was only the old TT-Telephone Technician school and some ETs with special needs.

Availablity and "A" school your husband will be attending, is what it will depend on.

From the Petaluma Website:

"Family Housing
Eligibility
All officers and enlisted personnel who are entitled to BAH with dependents and are accompanied by their dependents are eligible for Training Center Petaluma family housing. ET and IT "A" School students with dependents are also eligible for TRACEN Petaluma housing.

We are the primary housing site for personnel permanently assigned to Training Center Petaluma, NAVCEN, Station Bodega Bay, CGC Sockeye, ESD Petaluma, CPO Academy, and PACAREA Armory North.

Assignment Policy
As good stewards of the taxpayer’s money and surrounding community, Training Center Petaluma actively strives to maintain the Coast Guard’s standard of 98% minimum occupancy level of our housing site. Therefore all eligible personnel reporting to the commands listed above should expect to be assigned to government housing if housing is available."

Here you will be able to find Tracen Petaluma's Instruction for the Housing Assignment Process.
Petaluma Housing Info

This message has been edited. Last edited by: smirfy,

i failed to mention he is going to ET school. So this is saying that we will probably get into housing?

I'm really not good with all of these wordy policies.

Thanks for responding.

quote:

ET and IT "A" School students with dependents are also eligible for TRACEN Petaluma housing.

Sounds like you are eligible. Now the question becomes is there any housing available in January.

Call the housing office and ask them.

Your hubby will most likely get BAH. I lived at Lakeville Resort for a year (1br @ 875) and then moved to Novato (2br townhome @ 1875). So it's not that expensive! You just gotta know where to look!

PCS Orders are cut for any assignment 20 + weeks... ET 'A' School is 28 weeks long so he'll be "permanently" assigned to TRACEN Petaluma... Even though it's only for 7 months... There are multiple choices out here as far as housing goes... There's a set number of houses reserved for ET & IT students with accompanying dependents... The best bet is for him to contact the housing department as soon as possible to reserve housing ('max' wait time is 30 days, but don't hold your breath) Do keep in mind that this is transfer season and housing is filling up rapidly... There's housing here on base and in Novato (about 30 min south of TRACEN) Waivers for military housing are granted in some cases, but the first step is for him to contact housing... Their website is http://www.uscg.mil/hq/tcpet/services/cmh/index.shtm

For a student I would recommend trying to get housing on base if for no other reason than it's close proximity to the main parts of the base ie: his school... And trust me, that'll come in handy...

Hope this helps...

OH MY GOD, bless your heart!!
So what you're saying is: It is most likely, if we apply early, we can get into on base housing?

See, that is our first choice. When I called housing, they said there were only "15 units available for students". Now, I have no idea what in the h-e-double toothpicks what that means. 15 units for all coasties living on base? 15 units for ET students? 15 units for students in general? And, unfortunately, the gentleman was a little bit less than willing to talk to me about it. I understand his point, I suppose.

I really prefer to get into on-base housing. It just makes more sense.

So, should he wait until he gets back from bootcamp, or should he try to get on the list before hand? See, I don't know when he'll be getting his orders. I don't know if he'll get them at bootcamp (which, if he does, I doubt they will give him the opportunity to call over to the Petaluma housing office), or if he'll get them after bootcamp (which means, it will be 14 days before we are set to be in Cali). Oh goodness, what to do.

Thanks for all your help by the way!

Blessings,
Crystal

Crystal,
I have just recently applied for housing.......I too am a coastie wife.

It has been my experience that you will need copies of orders and dependents worksheet. If you have those plus a power of attorney you may be able to do this on your own.
I have also found that things vary from one location to the next...
The best thing to do is pick up the phone and call them...tell them that you are NEW to the process and hopefully you will find a friendly person on the other end...
Make a list of questions before you call...most of the time these places are very busy and quick to jump off of the phone....If you don't understand what something means...ask again
They will help you
Good Luck,
Rena

I am not sure if you found a place to stay but this is good info on other people doing the same thing. Another thing you can do is contact the housing office in Novato and see if there are still housing out there available. I moved my family out there while I was in ET "A" school. I graduated there a couple years ago. Hope this helps. If you need more info, let me know....

Great job fellow Coastie families on proving once again that we really can be of help to each other!



sindbad who enjoyed the rolling hills of Petaluma and the sumptious food at the dining hall sends

Props to google maps on this one.

I left Petaluma not long ago and a good amount of the people who were married lived in Santa Rosa. Theres a apartment complex at the corner of W 3rd and N Dutton. The nice thing is you can take 3rd to Stony Point and that can take you most of the way to base so you avoid the freeway in the morning.

I'm in school now, almost half done. My wife and I live off base at Lakeville Resorts in Petaluma. Rent is now $1050 and security deposit was only $250. And it's definatly worth having your spouse out here