The earlier you apply the better your chances. Just call up your city and enquire about applying. If you qualify, they might get back to you next year, or in five years. But they'll definitely never get back to you if your name isn't on the list. Anyway, people move out all the time -- when their luck turns and they decide they want a house, or need to move for work. My parents moved out.

My parents were on the list for less than a year before we got in. We were poor as fuck. I'm talking trip to the steel dump for my birthday kind of poor. So your luck can turn around if you try sometimes.