Erica Thompson, a mother of five and military spouse of more than 22 years, has traveled six times to Capitol Hill to push Congress on mold and indoor-air-quality problems in privatized military housing. Her family experienced what has become a familiar pattern: an HVAC system flagged by maintenance as needing replacement, dehumidifiers dumping six gallons of water a day to keep humidity down, and a cascade of health issues that hit children, pets, and adults differently.
“Kids started getting headaches and feeling nauseous in certain rooms of the house, and that was about six months into living there,” Thompson said in a separate interview with PBS NewsHour. “Our dogs started having seizures, our 4-year-old dog that was healthy and in good shape. Within 10 days, our son started passing out.” She was experiencing cardiac issues herself, and after the walls were opened and windows replaced, her children developed rashes and worsening symptoms.
“This is not political,” Thompson said. “This is a basic right that somebody serving in the military should have healthy homes on base. The kids should be healthy.” Published February 10, 2026 by Military.com. Read the full article.