NATCHEZ — Eric Staiger just moved to Natchez and now he and his family need a place to live.

Staiger is a newly hired assistant warden at the Correction Corporations of America facility and has not been able to find rental housing since he began searching prior to his move to Natchez.

“It’s been a challenge so far,” Staiger said of locating a rental house for himself, his wife and their two kids.

He started his search on the Internet before he left his home in Ohio.

“I thought it would be easier,” he said. “Now I’m just relying on word of mouth and working with my Realtor.”

And Natchez Realtor Sue Stedman said while she’s thrilled to see job growth in the community, she isn’t surprised by Staiger’s struggle.

“There aren’t many rentals out there right now,” Stedman said. “And some people are going to notice a shortage.”

But Stedman said while rentals can be hard to come by, the sale market in Natchez is doing well.

Stedman said the number of houses for sale in the area has reached pre-Katrina levels.

But that won’t help Staiger.

CCA Warden Vance Laughlin said upper level management at the prison is being hired from within the company.

Laughlin said his group of managers is coming to the area with the intent of being promoted out of Adams County, and are not in the market to buy a house.

“They need rentals,” Laughlin said.

Laughlin estimated of the 400 employees he plans to hire, 30-40 are already employed by CCA and will transfer to Natchez.

“It works well for us; they’re already trained, and they can help us with training,” Laughlin said. “But they all need places to live, and there aren’t enough quality rent houses.”

Laughlin said that lack of available rental houses makes it hard to entice employees to an area.

But Laughlin is seeing problems in the housing market outside of Natchez have an impact on prospective employees.

Laughlin said some interested in moving to Natchez are having a difficult time selling their homes due to the slumping housing market nationwide and are unable to make the move.

“They may not be able to pay a rent and a mortgage at the same time,” he said.

But locally, at least, Stedman sees a light at the end of the tunnel.

“Generally the market will adjust to meet the demands of buyer or renters,” she said.

Stedman said she would not be surprised to see some houses for sale come off the market and be listed as rental units.