Locked Out: Low Wages and Affordable Housing in Alabama

Alabama's February 2008 home mortgage foreclosure rate reflected an increase of almost 60 percent from the previous year and an increase of 21.54 percent from the month before, at a time when the national rate actually declined by more than 4 percent.

These dramatic figures tend to obscure the fact that for many Alabamians, the ability to provide a decent place to live for themselves and their families has been a longstanding challenge. And the rising number of foreclosures, tighter underwriting standards and the erosion of credit are only likely to make that situation worse.

This special report examines the challenges facing low-income home-buyers and renters in Alabama.