Hundreds wait in cold for chance to apply for affordable DC housing

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Hundreds waited overnight in the cold Thursday for their chance to be considered for affordable housing being made available in the District.

The line grew as the morning went on outside of the Orchard Park Apartments in southeast D.C.

Officials at the apartment complex say that the first 200 people will receive an invitation to apply for housing being made available at the Woodberry Village Apartments. If they meet all of the qualifications after applying, those applicants will be considered for the housing. The entire process could take between three and six months.

FOX 5's Melanie Alnwick spoke with some of the people in line who told her the demand for affordable housing in Washington, D.C. was high but space was limited. One man waiting in line told Alnwick that he currently resided in a homeless shelter and hoped to find an affordable place of his own.

Police were on the scene Thursday morning. People waiting in line told Alnwick that a small altercation broke out Wednesday while people waited in a similar line for housing opportunities at a different complex.