Relocation Assistance

Relocation Assistance & Reverse Sponsorship Program

Fleet and Family Support Center Naval Station Great Lakes

Relocating can be overwhelming, but you don't have to go through it alone. The Fleet and Family Support Center at Naval Station Great Lakes offers full-spectrum relocation support to ensure that transitioning sailors and their families have a smooth and informed PCS experience whether you're heading to a ship, shore command, CONUS or OCONUS.

Base Housing & Off-Base Housing Resources

On-Base Housing at NSGL

On-base family housing for Naval Station Great Lakes is managed by Hunt Military Communities under the Public-Private Venture partnership. Options include:

• 2- to 5-bedroom homes for families of varying sizes
• Pet-friendly units (restrictions apply)
• Community amenities such as parks, playgrounds, fitness centers, and walking trails
• Maintenance services included

Housing Office Location
Naval Station Great Lakes Family Housing
Building 8100
Phone: 847-689-4312

Website: https://www.navygreatlakesfamilyhousing.com/

Important: Active-duty service members must check in with the Housing Service Center before making any off-base housing arrangements.

Off-Base Housing Assistance

If you're seeking housing in the surrounding Lake County, Illinois area (such as North Chicago, Waukegan, Gurnee or Libertyville), FFSC and the Housing Service Center can help you:

• Review current rental listings and prices
• Learn about military clauses in leases
• Understand tenant rights and local ordinances
• Get referrals for temporary lodging and short-term leases
• Access HOMES.mil, the official DOW website for off-base rental listings

Rental Price Range:

• 1 Bedroom: $1,000–$1,400/month
• 2 Bedroom: $1,400–$1,800/month
• 3+ Bedroom: $1,800–$2,400+/month (varies by location and amenities)

Don’t forget: Application fees, security deposits, pet fees, and utilities may not be included in rent.

Relocation Resource Centers (3 Locations)

NSGL has three relocation resource centers with computers, printers, CAC access and support staff to assist with:

• Creating a move in DPS (Defense Personal Property System)
• Searching for housing, base maps, schools and child care
• Budgeting for your PCS move
• Printing welcome aboard packets and checklists

Locations:

• FFSC Headquarters – Building 26
• SWESC – Building 236
• SCSTC – Building 621

Household Goods, Personally Procured Move, Non-Temporary Storage and More

Types of Moves:

• HHG: Government-coordinated full-service move
• PPM: DIY move; potentially reimbursable
• NTS: Store HHG for up to 90 days for CONUS; longer for OCONUS or unique situations
• CONUS/OCONUS: Specialized moves depending on duty station type

For more information, please visit Navy Household Goods website.

Pro Tip: Contact the Personal Property Office for counseling on your entitlements and weight limits.

For more information about PCSing to your next duty station, please review the PCS Guide 2026.

Personal Property

Personal Property Office
1710B Cavin Dr.
Building 8100
Great Lakes, IL 60088-3402

householdgoods@us.navy.mil

DPS

Sailors must register with DPS to:

• Schedule shipments
• Request storage
• Track move status
• Upload weight tickets for PPM
• File claims

Need Help? Resource Center staff can walk you through the system.

OCONUS Moves – Special Considerations

• Dependent Entry Approval must be approved for family travel overseas. Please talk with your CPPA or CPC for information about DEA.
• Rules and restrictions vary greatly by country.
• Some bases prohibit pets or POVs.
• Medical care and EFMP clearance may be required.
• OCONUS shipping includes possible storage, one POV shipment and additional paperwork.

Shipping Pets and Vehicles

• Pet shipping is not covered by the government.
• You’ll need to meet host-nation pet import rules (e.g., Japan, Italy, Guam, etc.).
• POV shipping is authorized for most OCONUS orders (one vehicle per family).
• Use Vehicle Processing Centers for drop-off and pickup visit PCSMYPOV for more information.

Reverse Sponsorship Program

Reverse Sponsorship helps sailors departing “A” or “C” school connect with their next command sponsor before PCS.

Services include:

• Connecting sailors with their ship/shore command sponsor
• Sending an electronic welcome aboard packet for their next duty station
• Preparing questions to ask about housing, transportation, uniforms, and check-in
• Ensuring a smoother PCS with minimal confusion

FFSC will contact the gaining command on your behalf if you haven’t heard from them within 30 days of receiving orders.

Personal Property & Entitlements Counseling

Visit the Personal Property Activity 

PPA Customer Call Center

Toll Free: 833-MIL-MOVE (833-645-6683)

HHG Questions: householdgoods@us.navy.mil

Email: PCSCallCenter@mail.mil

• Understanding your PCS entitlements
• Reviewing HHG weight limits by rank
• Creating a move plan
• Filing reimbursement and damage claims
• Special circumstances like early return of dependents, dual-military families and more

Your Military and Family Support Center provides relocation assistance to help make PCS moves as smooth as possible. Resources include:

• PCS planning: Most relocation assistance programs offer consultations to help you with the moving process. If this your first military move, your first time moving overseas or you have challenging or complex circumstances contact your installation Relocation Assistance Program as soon as possible for support.
• Plan My Move: An online War Department relocation tool that provides you with customizable checklists and links to helpful resources for the tasks ahead.
• Military OneSource: A website and contact center that offer 24/7 support for moving information and resources. Learn more about PCS basics. For comprehensive moving resources and information, including Defense Personal Property login details, visit Moving Your Personal Property.
• Workshops and briefings: Workshops vary by location. You may find classes on housing options, moving with children, moving with pets and more.
• Predeparture briefings: These sessions provide essential information about your move and may be required for some populations.
• Special needs: If you have a child or family member enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, contact your installation EFMP-Family Support office to assist you.
• Settling-in services: Look for welcome programs or local area tours that may be offered. Overseas services may include introductory language classes and cultural awareness activities.
• Foreign-born spouse support: Assistance includes information and referral to resources such as immigration and naturalization.
• Emergency assistance: Sometimes emergencies occur while moving. The Military and Family Support Center has the resources to provide emergency financial assistance, as well as information and referrals.
• Authorized housing flexibility options: Eligible service members with PCS orders may be entitled to flexibilities such as extended stays in government housing and early housing eligibility. Contact your military personnel office for more information.
• Spouse licensure reimbursement: Your service branch may reimburse spouses up to $1,000 for relicensure and certification costs resulting from relocations or PCS moves. See this Military OneSource article Transferring Your Professional License for more information and specific service branch policies.

Great Lakes PCS and Household Goods Information

Naval Station Great Lakes sailors and families preparing for a permanent change of station, or PCS, should begin planning as soon as orders are received. The Fleet and Family Support Center Relocation Assistance Program can assist with move planning; household goods, or HHG; personally procured moves, or PPM; storage; claims and relocation resources.

Before You Move

• Review your orders and verify all authorized entitlements before arranging dependent travel or moving household goods.
• Student sailors should confirm their Accounting Category Code, or ACC, with their Student Administration Office or Command Pay and Personnel Administrator, or CPPA. Some student orders (particularly initial skills training or courses under 20 weeks) may not authorize dependent travel, household goods shipment to the school location or housing allowances for dependents.
• Update your contact information in the Defense Personal Property System, or DPS.
• Keep important items with you, including identification cards, orders, passports, cash, keys, jewelry, medications and personal electronics.
• Photograph or video household goods before pack-out, obtain appraisals for high-value items and carefully review all inventory documents before signing.

Government-Arranged Household Goods Moves

For a government-arranged HHG move, the moving company will pack, load, transport and deliver authorized household goods.

Seven-day scheduling window: In DPS, members select a desired pickup date and a latest pickup date. DPS establishes a seven-day pickup window ending on the latest requested date. The moving company may select any pickup date within that window but may not schedule pickup outside it. Pack-out dates may occur before the pickup window because the window applies to the date the mover removes property from the residence.

Members should contact the moving company if it has not made contact within three days after shipment award. If the issue is not resolved, contact the local Transportation Office, or TO. Weekend and holiday pickups require the member’s approval; weekday moves are recommended when TO quality-assurance support is available.

Personally Procured Moves

A Personally Procured Move, or PPM, allows a member to manage all or part of a move instead of using a government-arranged moving company. Members must obtain authorization from the TO before beginning a PPM.

A PPM may involve a rental truck, trailer, portable storage container, personally owned vehicle, commercial moving company or small-package carrier. Members should retain all receipts and obtain certified empty and full weight tickets as required. Those hiring a commercial mover should research the company carefully, review estimates and contracts and remain alert for fraud indicators such as unusually low estimates, demands for large up-front cash payments or companies that misrepresent themselves as carriers.

Non-Temporary Storage

Non-Temporary Storage, or NTS, may be authorized for eligible overseas or remote assignments, or for members retiring or separating while awaiting a final home address. NTS facilities are not required to be climate-controlled.

All property placed in NTS must meet packing requirements. Food, other consumable items, liquids and lithium batteries may not be stored. Firearms and gun safes may be authorized, but ammunition is prohibited; safes and containers cannot be locked; and keys or combinations must be provided to the mover. Members must keep the TO and storage provider informed of changes to contact information, orders, extension, or authorization status to avoid personally incurred storage costs.

Appointing an Authorized Agent

Members who are underway, deployed or otherwise unavailable may appoint a spouse, family member or trusted individual to act as a releasing or receiving agent.

To appoint an agent, provide the local TO with either a notarized Special Power of Attorney or DD Form 3167, Releasing Agent Authorization Statement. The agent must be listed in the DPS application and may be responsible for attending the pre-move survey, supervising packing and pickup, verifying inventory, communicating with the mover and TO, and accepting delivery. The member remains responsible for actions and signatures made by the authorized agent.

Loss, Damage and Inconvenience Claims

Members should inspect household goods and the residence during packing and delivery. Note loss or damage on the appropriate delivery documentation and retain photographs and records.

For household-goods loss or damage, members generally must provide written notice to the moving company within 180 days of delivery. For shipments picked up on or after May 15, 2026, the final claim filing period is 12 months from delivery. Residential damage should be documented immediately; members should notify the moving company within seven calendar days after the mover’s final day at the residence.

An inconvenience claim may be available when a moving company fails to meet an agreed pickup date, required delivery date or certain delivery requirements after storage-in-transit. Members should notify the moving company of their intent to file, complete the DP3 Shipment Inconvenience Claim Form, retain itemized receipts and contact the TO for assistance when needed.

Great Lakes Relocation Assistance Contacts

Fleet and Family Support Center – Relocation Assistance Program
Building 26, 525 Farragut Avenue, Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois 60088
Commercial: 847-688-3603, extension 100

Relocation Outreach Centers

• Building 236
• Building 621

Additional Support

• Navy Household Goods Customer Call Center: householdgoods@navy.mil
• Personal Property Activity Call Center: 833-MIL-MOVE (833-645-6683)
• PPA Customer Support: PCSCallCenter@mail.mil
• DPS/MilMove Technical Assistance: transcom-ppa-dtsc@mail.mil