The city received 14,316 applications for Section 8 rental assistance during a one-week open application period that ended at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, officials said.

It was the first time since 2005 the city had opened up to the public the waiting list for the city’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 program, the “housing choice” option allows voucher holders some flexibility in selecting where they want to live.

Being on the wait list does not guarantee a person or family will receive a voucher immediately. A predetermined number of applications will be randomly selected to be placed on the wait list.