Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The waiting list for obtaining a Housing Choice Voucher is closed again.

The Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority recently opened the waiting list and quickly received over 1500 applications from families seeking the housing subsidies through the federal government’s Section 8 program. Those applications will be entered into a lottery to randomly select 500 that will be added to the actual waiting list for the voucher.

Officials say those selected through the lottery will be notified by mail before December 15th.

The Housing Choice Voucher waiting list was last opened for new applicants in 2012 and the HRA doesn’t anticipate reopening it for another round of applications for several more years.

More From KROC-AM