For the first time in more than 10 years, the Chicago Housing Authority is opening up its family housing wait list.

Starting June 14, people can apply to get on the public housing wait list. A lottery will randomly select 40,000 names at the end of the four-week registration period.

A new wait list is opening up because most families from the old wait list are placed.

Kris Warren is chief operating officer for CHA. She says the agency isn’t sure how many families will apply to get in the lottery. Warren explains why the lottery will select 40,000 names.

WARREN: We figured that number was a fair number because it allowed for us to have them waiting no longer than five to seven years. Anything larger than that you’re going to be setting up families for expectations – they could waiting for a lot longer time and we just don’t think that’s fair.

The wait list includes traditional, scattered-site and mixed-income public housing.