A new housing survey issued by Alabama Arise reveals that 48 percent of people living in Calhoun County can't afford to pay what's considered a fair market value for housing.  Some people are living in substandard conditions just to make rent.

Marquis Kirby points to a stain on her roof, revealing "when it rains real bad it leaks from here."  She admits her house needs a lot of work, but at $275 a month for rent, this is all she gets.

Kirby says "It's hard. I'm struggling every day but i'm trying to make it."

She is like of other people in Calhoun County who'll call about a property for lease, only to find out that the monthly rent is much more than she can afford.

The fair market value for a two bedroom house in the county is $526 a month. People who can't pay that are left living in homes that need a lot repair. It's not because there's a housing shortage.  Instead, according to Clarence Williams with the city of Anniston, "there is a shortage of affordable housing that's decent, safe, sanitary and up to housing quality standards that we all would like to live in."

To try and change that the city of Anniston partnered with Jacksonville, Weaver, Hobson City and Piedmont to form the state's first HUD financed home program benefiting a region. Coming together brings more HUD money into the each city.

Williams says "It provides funding for a wide range of eligible activities."

Eligible activities include money for repairs in low income houses, so no one's forced to pay good money for a home that's no good.

City leaders are waiting to hear back from state HUD representatives to find out it their group application is accepted.

Once it is, the struggle to find safe, affordable housing in the county could get a little easier.