Section 8 Apartments in Staten Island

Subsidized & affordable housing in Staten Island

39 buildings · 10,438 apartments

• 12 Project-based Section 8
• 6 Senior 62+ (Section 202)
• 5 Public housing
• 16 Tax-credit

Neighborhoods in Staten Island

Transit Access

Staten Island has unique transit — there is no subway service to the borough. The Staten Island Ferry runs 24/7 from St. George Ferry Terminal to Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan (free, 25 minutes). The Staten Island Railway (SIR) runs from St. George south to Tottenville, parallel to the borough's east coast. Bus service is extensive: the SI Express buses (X1, X8, X10, etc.) provide direct service to Manhattan. Local buses (S40, S46, S48, S51, S53, S78, S79 SBS) connect neighborhoods. The Staten Island Ferry is the only direct connection to Manhattan; voucher holders on the North Shore typically have 30-45 minute total commutes to Lower Manhattan.

Voucher Housing in Staten Island

Staten Island voucher inventory is small but exists, primarily on the North Shore. Section 8 is the most common; CityFHEPS landlord acceptance has grown modestly since the 2024 payment standard increase. NYCHA on Staten Island operates small developments at Markham Gardens (West Brighton), Berry Houses (Dongan Hills), Richmond Terrace Houses (West New Brighton), South Beach Houses, and Stapleton Houses — roughly 5,000 total apartments. Most Staten Island voucher landlords are individual owners of small apartment buildings or converted houses.

Local Services & Resources

Parks, Museums & Cultural Sites

NYCHA Developments in Staten Island

Major NYC Housing Authority developments in this borough. Apply through the NYCHA Self-Service Portal at selfserve.nycha.info.

Schools

Staten Island public schools fall under Community School District 31, which covers the entire borough — the only NYC borough with a single school district.

Within District 31, schools serve very different populations:

• North Shore schools (PS 16, PS 18, PS 20, PS 31, IS 51, IS 61, Curtis HS, Concord HS, Port Richmond HS): substantial voucher and immigrant family populations, free breakfast/lunch participation high, substantial support services
• Mid-Island schools (PS 19, PS 26, PS 29, IS 7, IS 24, Susan Wagner HS, New Dorp HS): mixed populations
• South Shore schools (PS 1, PS 5, PS 23, PS 32, PS 36, Tottenville HS): predominantly middle-class populations

Staten Island schools tend to have lower student-to-teacher ratios than other NYC boroughs due to the lower population density. Many South Shore schools rank among the highest-performing in NYC; North Shore schools have substantial support infrastructure for low-income and immigrant families.

For high school, Staten Island students can apply to any NYC high school including specialized high schools in other boroughs (Staten Island Tech, the borough''s specialized high school, admits by SHSAT). Tottenville High School is one of the largest high schools in NYC by enrollment.

What Your Voucher Covers

Voucher rent limits are set by each program, not by neighborhood. For new leases in 2026, CityFHEPS and NYCHA Section 8 cover rents up to $2,604 for a studio, $2,734 for a 1-bedroom, $2,997 for a 2-bedroom and $3,753 for a 3-bedroom, with all utilities included. HPD Section 8 sets its own payment standards. Rents vary widely from building to building, so check each apartment's rent against your shopping letter or voucher before you apply. Our CityFHEPS voucher amounts guide has the full 2026 table.

Transit Reality for Staten Island Voucher Holders

Staten Island has no subway service. Voucher families must factor transit into housing decisions:

• Staten Island Ferry (St. George Terminal to Whitehall Terminal): Free, 25 minutes, runs 24/7. The primary connection to Manhattan.
• Staten Island Railway (SIR): Single subway-like line running from St. George south to Tottenville along the eastern shore. Connects North Shore voucher communities to South Shore residential areas.
• Express buses to Manhattan (X1, X8, X10, X12, X14, X15, X17, X42): Direct service during commute hours; full express fare ($7 one-way as of 2026), more expensive than subway/ferry.
• Local buses: Extensive bus network connecting Staten Island neighborhoods, but commute times can be long.

Voucher holders working in Manhattan typically have 45-60 minute commutes from North Shore Staten Island via ferry plus subway. From the South Shore, commutes can be 60-90 minutes.

Source-of-Income Discrimination Enforcement

Staten Island has documented source-of-income discrimination, particularly in larger management companies operating on the North Shore and in South Shore single-family rental properties. The Fair Housing Justice Center has conducted testing on Staten Island.

Staten Island Legal Services handles source-of-income cases for borough residents and works closely with El Centro del Inmigrante for Spanish-speaking clients. Voucher families facing discrimination should document everything, file with NYC CCHR, and contact legal aid.

Hurricane Sandy and Climate Resilience

Staten Island was severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, particularly along the eastern shore (Midland Beach, Ocean Breeze, South Beach, Tottenville). Substantial post-Sandy investment has addressed:

• NYCHA resilience upgrades: South Beach Houses, Markham Gardens, and other developments received new mechanical systems, electrical upgrades, and flood mitigation
• Build It Back Program: Single-family home rebuilding and elevation
• Living Breakwaters and other coastal protection: Long-term flood reduction infrastructure

When searching for housing on Staten Island''s eastern shore, voucher families should check whether buildings have completed post-Sandy resilience upgrades and consider flood zone designations.

Recent Housing Policy

Staten Island-specific developments:

• 2024 CityFHEPS expansion: Brought CityFHEPS payment standards in line with Section 8, expanding voucher options on Staten Island
• Bay Street Corridor Rezoning: Substantial new affordable housing development along Bay Street in St. George, Tompkinsville, and Stapleton; some buildings incorporate project-based Section 8
• North Shore 2030: NYC Economic Development Corporation initiative for waterfront development with affordable housing components

Why Voucher Holders Choose Staten Island

Compared to other boroughs, Staten Island offers:

1. More parkland per resident — green space access for families
2. Lower density and more single-family inventory in some neighborhoods
3. Free Staten Island Ferry providing 24/7 free transit to Manhattan
4. Generally lower crime rates than denser urban neighborhoods (varies by area)
5. Strong community organizations for specific immigrant populations (particularly Liberian, Sri Lankan, Mexican)

Trade-offs include longer commute times, smaller voucher landlord networks, fewer service options, and a more car-dependent built environment than other boroughs.

Neighborhood-Specific Considerations

Staten Island''s primary voucher-friendly neighborhoods:

• St. George: Major transit hub with the Staten Island Ferry Terminal; most active voucher market on the island. See our St. George guide.
• Port Richmond: North Shore commercial corridor with growing voucher acceptance; substantial Mexican American community. See our Port Richmond guide.

Other Staten Island areas with notable voucher inventory: Stapleton (Stapleton Houses NYCHA), West Brighton (Markham Gardens NYCHA, West Brighton Houses NYCHA), South Beach (South Beach Houses NYCHA), Dongan Hills (Berry Houses NYCHA), Mariners Harbor (Mariners Harbor Houses NYCHA).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there limited voucher housing on Staten Island?

Staten Island has the lowest rental density of NYC's five boroughs — most of the South Shore is owner-occupied single-family housing that does not participate in voucher programs. The borough's smaller renter population, combined with historically lower landlord awareness of voucher programs, has produced fewer voucher-accepting buildings than other boroughs.

How do I get to Manhattan from Staten Island voucher housing?

The Staten Island Ferry runs 24/7 from St. George to Whitehall in Lower Manhattan (free, 25 minutes). North Shore voucher housing is typically a 10-20 minute bus ride from the ferry terminal. Express buses (X1, X8, X10) provide direct service from Staten Island to Manhattan but charge full express fare ($7 one-way as of 2026).

Are Staten Island schools good for voucher families?

Staten Island public schools are part of NYC Department of Education. School District 31 covers the entire borough. School quality varies — some North Shore schools serve large voucher and immigrant populations and have substantial support services; South Shore schools tend to be in more affluent neighborhoods. Families should research specific schools serving their target neighborhood.