Military families who have long-benefited from housing subsidies are finding themselves unable to afford rent amid record-breaking spikes in housing, as the Department of Defense neglects its commitment to help its service members find affordable places to live.

"It's affecting us personally but then I think about how we were a junior enlisted family at one point. I cannot imagine the struggles (they) are going through," said Kristen Marten, whose husband was transferred to Naval Base San Diego.

On-base housing wasn't an option — the waitlist for a four-bedroom home in the neighborhoods they qualified for was 14 to 16 months.

Neither were the military-only hotels near base where new arrivals can pay low rates as they get their bearings — those were full, too.

So Martin cast a wide net across San Diego and started applying for rental homes, all sight unseen.

"I was waking up and the first thing I was doing was looking at properties," Martin said. "I was looking at it midday, before I went to bed. I had alerts set. It became a full-time job." –AP