The US Navy needs to find thousands of temporary beds. Houseboats are on the table.

Naval Base San Diego, Jan. 7, 2021. Specialist 2nd Class Austin Haist/US Navy

The Navy may need almost 12,000 temporary beds during peak periods.

Officials are considering hotels, RVs, "man-camps," and houseboats.

Recruiting growth and barracks renovations are straining housing capacity.

The US Navy is looking for temporary housing options for sailors that could put thousands of them in hotels, RVs, prefabricated units, temporary "man-camps" or even houseboats as it searches for places to house troops during a yearslong effort to overhaul aging barracks .

The service announced its search for "practical and flexible" housing options "that can be deployed quickly" on Monday.

The scale of the search reflects the daunting challenge of repairing and renovating service member housing. Entire barracks must first be emptied out before renovations can begin.

Across the locations identified by the Navy, which include bases across the country, at least 8,600 beds are needed, though the service is seeking nearly 12,000 to account for possible personnel surges, between now and 2030. While the focus is on barracks upgrades, part of the service's shortfall comes from increased recruiting, according to the request for information.

Prefabricated modular homes, "containerized housing," commercial apartment leases, extended-stay hotels, and repurposed existing buildings are all potential options, according to a request for information posted online by the service. Even houseboats are on the table.

"The goal is to find innovative solutions that meet strict quality and safety standards without disrupting critical training and naval operations," the service said in the announcement.

Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett tours a barracks room at the USS Cole bachelor enlisted quarters at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, Mar. 23, 2026, Specialist 1st Class Brian T. Glunt/US Navy

The military has struggled with dilapidated facilities for years, including the spaces troops live and work in. Complicating efforts to repair them is the military's regular practice of redirecting facilities money to other projects, such as deploying troops to the southern border.

A recent government watchdog report examining the US security mission along the southern border found that the Pentagon had redirected $1.264 billion in funding for military "facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization" in fiscal year 2025 to support southern border operations, which have cost the government $2.64 billion in total so far.

The report did not identify the facilities or projects affected by the realignment or determine whether particular barracks repairs could be delayed.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth established a department-wide Barracks Task Force last fall, funded with $1.2 billion for military repairs and renovations, drawing from funding provided by President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill. The Navy received $375 million of that funding.

The Pentagon did not respond to questions from Business Insider about the task force's recent accomplishments beyond funding allocations.

"Improving living conditions is a top priority for the Navy, but comprehensive upgrades require significant structural work," the service said in its Monday announcement. "To safely conduct the deep renovations needed to modernize aging facilities, entire barracks must be vacated."

The temporary housing will make way for "massive construction projects" to upgrade facilities, the Navy said.

"Our sailors are our most critical asset, and providing them with safe, clean, and comfortable living quarters is a fundamental responsibility," said Vice Adm. Scott Gray, Commander, Navy Installations Command.

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