WASHINGTON - People slept on the street and lined up around the block Tuesday night and Wednesday morning just for a chance to apply for apartments in newly-renovated low-income housing in northwest.

Hopeful would-be applicants were lining up as early as 7:00 p.m. Tuesday night for applications scheduled to be handed out at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

By the time the moment came on Wednesday, the line stretched four blocks. Dorothy Larimer, Property Manager of Jubilee Housing, explained, "I have 80 opportunities for an application. 50 opportunities for a waiting list. The remainder of people can be on a mailing list."

It was another night on the street for Jennifer Wiegane and her 2-year-old daughter. This night, though, was different: they slept in a line with many others, a line of the needy stretching four blocks.

"I'll be happy. I'm in school full time and everything you know. I'm trying," said Wiegane, one of the lucky one who scored an application ticket.

Wrapped in a sleeping bag, Stephanie Vans slept in line, hoping to secure a home for her three children. "It's a crapshoot, but it's a sacrifice and I'm willing to try and see what happens," Vans said. "All I can do is try." Vans also got an application for a unit.

For the many others left on line, the housing advocacy group could only take their information and add them to a mailing list.

Elderly, disabled and homeless, Deborah Canty arrived too late. Her name is one of those added to Jubilee's mailing list. She can only hope to make it next time. "If I have to stay two days from now on to get a spot for an apartment, I guess I'm gonna have to. I'll know better the next time."

Kathy Guillaume, development director for Jubilee Housing, offered assurances that those on the mailing list would not be forgotten by the group, but admits that they do not have enough housing for everyone interested in it.

"It's heart-wrenching, it really is, Guillaume said. "Jubilee Housing has been here for over 35 years and it's been trying to address this critical need of providing affordable rental housing. It's a shame that 35 years later, we're still trying to address that very same need."

The newly-renovated apartments are on Euclid Street NW and should be open in the early fall. The building is the third renovated for low-income housing by Jubilee. And there will be more opportunities for people like Deborah Canty: Jubilee is working on two more buildings where they hope to offer low-income housing.

 Email To Friend