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People camp out for chance at affordable housing

Posted at 9:45 AM, Jan 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-26 15:11:43-05

People lined up overnight in freezing weather for the chance to rent an apartment in a new affordable housing development - and they were all turned away.

The Meadows at Dunkirk is located at 19300 E. 57th Ave., near East 56th Avenue and Tower Road, on the Denver-Aurora border.

Police from Denver and Aurora were called out after a confrontation was reported between applicants at about 5 a.m., officers told Denver7.

Police soon used a bullhorn to tell the crowd the event was canceled. 

According to the website ForRent.com, the "application intake event" scheduled at the clubhouse and leasing office Wednesday through Friday "only." Section 8 vouchers are welcome, the website states.

One applicant told Denver7 she got in line at 7 p.m. Monday.

The woman said there were "a couple hundred" people in line by 7 a.m. Tuesday. There was a line of cars around the complex when Denver7 Reporter Sally Mamdooh arrived at 9 a.m.

Police said the management company, Pedcor Management, was overwhelmed by the number of people in line and canceled the application event.

Many people were upset and didn't want to give up. Some people told Denver7 they missed work, didn't take their children to school, and took the bus or traveled long distances to be there. Some came from as far as Texas. 

The leasing office was scheduled to open at 10 a.m.

A one-bedroom unit on the first floor ranges from $545-$845, according to the website. Rents range from $645- $1,000 for a two-bedroom unit and from $740-$1,160 for a three-bedroom unit.

"Rents at 40%, 50% and 60% Tax Credit and 60% with attached garages," it states.

Pedcor Management would not say when they would accept applications.