Housing - 2020 Year in Review

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, the housing department has continued to push forward. Whether it’s moving the Sigonella community in or out of unaccompanied housing, economy housing, or Marinai government housing, or dealing with emergent issues in those homes, our staff strives to provide the best customer service and to improve everyone’s quality of life while stationed here.

We don’t just talk about great customer service, we practice it. To back up that claim, the Marinai housing won this year’s award for customer service with a score of 87%, the highest across the region.

This year, the Marinai housing staff streamlined many processes to adjust to the “new normal” of COVID-19. For example, check-ins were performed by phone, email and video, while check-outs were performed by simply leaving the keys on the counter. To keep our staff and customers safe, all preventative maintenance inspections and unnecessary inspections were halted, but Pizzarotti did not miss any maintenance requests or service calls during this time. The Marinai team, including Pizzarotti, SAC furnishing contractor, housing staff, and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) staff, were totally prepared in having 30 ready-to-occupy housing units with furniture for incoming personnel. This is just one example of the team spirit throughout the housing program!

In the economy, the housing department was able to work through some very intense issues during the lockdowns, to include maintenance issues, utility contracts difficulties, internet issues, loaner furniture delivery issues, and changes to lease signings and tours. Though these issues were complicated by the strict lockdown measures, we were able to work through them all.

The unaccompanied housing team, which includes 12 military staff and seven civilian staff, were also on top of their game. Throughout 2020, they prepared housing for over 400 additional personnel to facilitate the pandemic restrictionof-movement requirements. The staff’s responsibilities included ensuring rooms were clean, providing linen and room keys, and being on station after hours. During this time, the staff replaced mattresses in 350 rooms, replaced appliances such as refrigerators, stoves and microwaves, and provided new lighted building signs, as well as organizing two town hall meetings with the NAS Sigonella commanding officer, Capt. Kevin Pickard. Staff worked continuously through the year to improve the quality of life in the barracks and hold many events for the holiday season.

Despite all the COVID-19 restrictions, the housing office stayed open for business. By utilizing the smart working program, the housing staff still took phone calls, answered emails, signed leases via email, conducted check-ins via phone calls, scheduled loaner furniture appointments and maintenance work from home. The housing staff has been totally dedicated to providing a high level of customer service and maintaining a high quality of life standard. All of this year’s successes were indeed a team effort.

The entire housing program staff wishes the entire community a NAS Sigonella Happy Holidays!