FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — Fort Wayne Housing officials say the lingering effects of the Great Recession are contributing to a high demand for affordable housing.

The Journal Gazette reports about 6,000 people applied for the voucher program previously known as Section 8 during a recent three-day signup period. And Habitat for Humanity says it had a record 600 applicants last year.

The last time the Fort Wayne Housing Authority opened its waiting list was four years ago, when 10,000 people applied for vouchers. Executive Director Maynard Scales says it would take 20 years to satisfy all of this year's applicants.

Voucher recipients pay 30 percent of their income toward rent and the federal government pays the rest.

Scales said his office expects to help about 300 people through the voucher program.