Military families still struggle with food insecurity, housing, and dwindling savings

Economic stability has long been considered a key component of military readiness, but a new report suggests many military families are struggling to make ends meet.

The 2025 Military Family 360° Survey, conducted by the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), captured responses from 10,089 military-connected individuals across all 50 states, and OCONUS locations between Oct. 2, 2025 and Jan. 16, 2026. From housing expenses that exceed military allowances to rising rates of food insecurity and dwindling emergency savings, the report found that financial pressures are creating challenges that extend beyond the household and could impact service members’ ability to focus on their missions.

Housing Costs Outpace Military Allowances

Housing remains one of the largest expenses for military families, and the survey found many households are paying significantly more than their housing benefits cover.

84.4% of respondents reported spending more than they could comfortably afford on housing, rent, or utility payments. Among active-duty families, nearly 60% said their monthly housing and utility costs exceeded their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).

The burden falls heaviest on junior enlisted families, where more than eight in 10 (81.2%) reported experiencing a severe housing burden (defined as spending more than half of their household income on housing expenses) compared with 41.2% of officer families.

The findings suggest that even with housing allowances, many military families are absorbing substantial out-of-pocket costs that leave less money available for other necessities or emergencies.

Food Insecurity Has Risen Sharply

One of the report’s most alarming findings is the rapid increase in food insecurity among military-connected families.

In 2025, 41.2% of respondents reported experiencing low or very low food security, compared with just 15.6% in 2023. Currently serving military families reported food insecurity at nearly twice the rate of veteran and retiree families, 47.2% compared with 25.2%.

The disparity is even more pronounced between enlisted and officer households. While 57% of enlisted families reported food insecurity, just 13.7% of officer families did.

The findings underscore concerns that military families are struggling to consistently afford enough nutritious food, despite steady employment with the military.

The survey also found that emergency savings remain critically low across the military community, leaving many families vulnerable when unexpected expenses arise. More than one-third (34.1%) of currently serving families reported having less than $500 in emergency savings (or no emergency fund at all), while 36.7% of veteran and retiree families reported similarly limited savings. More than half (50.6%) of currently serving respondents said they had experienced a financial emergency within the past two years.

While military families continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience, the survey findings caution that resilience alone cannot be the foundation of readiness.

“Ultimately, economic security has emerged not just as a matter of household welfare but as the foundational infrastructure for readiness,” the report’s conclusion states. “Financial volatility directly erodes morale, complicates decision-making, and threatens retention.”

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