Nearly six months after the U.S. Navy evacuated about 1,300 family members from Bahrain at the start of the Iran war, officials say the evacuees cannot return for the foreseeable future and must secure new housing. The evacuation occurred while Bahrain hosted NAVCENT headquarters and approximately 8,300 service members, dependents and civilians. The Navy reduced its presence after hostilities began, leaving only a small contingent for essential operations. Some families have reported spending tens of thousands of dollars on basic living expenses. Others are residing in temporary housing or sleeping on floors, with vehicles and furniture remaining in Bahrain or aboard ships unable to depart the region. Government officials have extended benefits to cover lodging, transportation and essential necessities, but many assistance programs are set to expire after 180 days, prompting the Navy and State Department to develop temporary workarounds. Vice Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said during a virtual town hall that the situation represents uncharted territory, according to an audio recording obtained by Stars and Stripes. Military officials have not provided a timeline for returning families, citing ongoing combat, collapsed ceasefires and repeated drone and missile attacks on the base. The State Department announced that civilian evacuee allowances will end on the 180‑day mark unless extensions are granted, affecting families whose assistance is governed by State Department rules rather than Defense Department policies. A CENTCOM spokesperson said that support is provided on a case‑by‑case basis, with per‑diem payments transitioning to housing allowances after safe‑haven benefits expire. One Navy spouse reported that repeated displacement has created behavioral challenges for her children and has complicated efforts to obtain child care, medical care and basic supplies. Another family, whose household goods were delayed by shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, has paid nearly $40,000 out of pocket and has not yet determined eligibility for assistance because they left under permanent change‑of‑station orders rather than safe‑haven authorization. The differing rules for active‑duty and civilian families have created confusion, as civilian employees are subject to State Department regulations while active‑duty families follow Navy policies. The Navy has directed dependents to designate a new home base, typically in the United States, to receive household goods and transition out of temporary safe‑haven status, with a possible return to Bahrain if conditions become safe. Some evacuees have encountered difficulties accessing support services, including an instance where a text message directing families to the Navy‑Marine Corps Relief Society resulted in a call being routed to the National Bank of Canada. The prolonged evacuation leaves families facing an unclear timeline for return, limited access to benefits and ongoing uncertainty about the future of NAVCENT operations in Bahrain.