Temporary Housing

The North Star Inn provides all temporary lodging on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Reservations for lodging should be made as far in advance as possible to ensure temporary lodging facilities are available upon arrival. Call the North Star Inn at 907-552-2454 to make lodging reservations as soon as possible. Rooms fill up quickly, especially during the summer months. Please remember that you must be signed in to your unit and off permissive temporary duty travel while residing in lodging in order to be reimbursed for the cost.

If the accompanied member and their family do not have a confirmed reservation, they may be issued a non-availability slip to go off base and obtain a hotel/motel in Anchorage. The Lodging Office has a referral list of hotels/motels that are within the Temporary Lodging Allowance costs. They can also provide listings of off-base hotels/motels that accept pets.

For more information on JBER TLF, please visit Department of Defense Lodging website and the JBER Life lodging page.

TLA on JBER is is a financial allowance that is intended to partially pay members for the more than normal living expenses incurred while in temporary living facilities OCONUS due to a PCS.

The maximum allowance is 30 days (JBERI 32-6000). TLA computations are very complex and involve the number of dependents, whether lodging has cooking facilities, amount paid for lodging, Basic Allowance for Housing, Basic Allowance for Subsistence and Cost of Living Allowance. 

You must apply for a TLA entitlement request, as it is not an automatic entitlement. TLA stops the day before the member occupies housing (JBER privatized or private sector). The date of occupancy is defined as the date the member takes possession of the property and has access to their home for the purpose of taking up residence. Non-receipt of HHG does not constitute authorization for TLA. JBER offers 90-day loaner furnishings through the Furnishings Management Section.

Any delays in finding adequate housing beyond the authorized 30 days does not automatically constitute authorization for an extension. Any extension requests beyond the initial authorized 30 days must be submitted to the JBER Housing Management Office for coordination.

Filing TLA:

May be a combination of on and off base lodging, subject to lodging’s availability.

When off base lodging is utilized a non-availability letter must be provided; failure to produce this receipt will limit the TLA authorization amount.

TLA arrival claims are to be submitted every 15 days. Even if you already have a place picked out to live, please make sure to keep track of your proof of your daily housing search.

Required Documents are obtained from the Housing Management Office.

If not in lodging, a non-availability letter is required.

Air Force Personnel: Contact the JBER Housing Office at (907) 551-4439 to obtain the required finance paperwork to submit for TLA reimbursement.

Army Personnel: Contact the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Accounting and Finance Office as soon as possible after arrival. 

Unaccompanied Personnel: Temporary Lodging Allowance is not authorized for single unaccompanied service members, but you may be housed in temporary hospitality rooms until a permanent dorm room is assigned. NOTE: TLA is authorized for first duty station and single Air Force personnel until a dorm room is available.

There are limited pet friendly family rooms available on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and those are on a first-come, first-served basis. If there are no pet friendly rooms available, you may obtain a list of local kennels by calling the lodging office at 907-552-2454. A non-availbility TLA letter will not be issued soley due to a pet room not being available. Summer time is very busy. Call as soon as you know you are PCSing.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson has two family camping areas (also called famcamps) on our installation, one of which is open year-round. Famcamps operate on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to active-duty service members who need accommodations due to a permanent change of station move. Visit the famcamp website or call 907-552-2023 for more information.

The North Star Inn does not accept mail for its guests. If you need to have your mail forwarded to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson until you obtain a permanent address, you can use the General Delivery address.

Your Name (Army)

General Delivery (HOLD) 

724 Quartermaster Road, Door 32

JBER, AK 99505-4000

907-428-3869

Your Name (Air Force/Space Force)

General Delivery (HOLD)

 -10437 Kuter Ave

JBER, AK 99506-9998

907-753-9089

It is critical that you include “HOLD” on the address line or your mail will just be sent back to your previous address. Once you arrive on Richardson, you can retrieve your mail at this address. Door 32 is on the back side of the building. Mail will be held for no more than 60 days. Please contact the post office if you would like to set up a Post Office in JBER, AK - Fort Richardson Location (postallocations.com ahead of time.