Is Coney Island a good area for voucher holders?

Yes. Coney Island has a large concentration of NYCHA and other subsidized housing, rents that generally fall within voucher payment standards, and a meaningful supply of family-sized apartments.

Can a landlord in Coney Island refuse my voucher?

Generally no. New York's statewide Human Rights Law bans source-of-income discrimination, so most landlords cannot refuse you just because you pay with a Housing Choice Voucher, CityFHEPS, or FHEPS.

How do I find Section 8 housing in Coney Island?

Apply to NYCHA and to HPD project-based buildings through Housing Connect (housingconnect.nyc.gov), and search the private market with voucher-friendly brokers and local groups like Astella Development.

New York City/brooklyn

Voucher-Friendly Apartments in Coney Island, Brooklyn

Coney Island, on the southern Brooklyn waterfront, pairs its famous boardwalk with one of the largest concentrations of public housing in southern Brooklyn — an important area for voucher holders.

About Coney Island

Coney Island is a peninsula neighborhood on the southern edge of Brooklyn, known for its beach, boardwalk, and amusement parks. Away from the attractions, the residential blocks along Surf and Mermaid Avenues hold a dense cluster of NYCHA developments that make the area a significant option for voucher families.

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Transit Access

Coney Island is the southern terminal of the D, F, N, and Q trains at Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue, one of the largest elevated stations in the world. The B36, B68, B74, and B82 buses connect the peninsula to the rest of Brooklyn.

Voucher Housing in Coney Island

Coney Island has a deep supply of subsidized housing. NYCHA runs several large developments here — including Surfside Gardens and O'Dwyer Gardens — alongside Mitchell-Lama and other affordable buildings. Because much of the local rental stock is subsidized, a Housing Choice Voucher, CityFHEPS, or FHEPS payment standard generally covers unit costs, and family-sized apartments are available.

About Coney Island

Coney Island is a diverse, largely working-class neighborhood with significant Black, Latino, and Russian-speaking communities and a large senior population. Many households rely on subsidized housing, and the area sits in a coastal flood zone, which has driven major resiliency investment in its public housing since Hurricane Sandy.

Local Services & Resources

Local support includes the Coney Island Jobs Plus program, Astella Development Corporation, Brooklyn Legal Services, and nearby HRA and community health services. These groups help residents with housing applications, tenant rights, and benefits.

Parks, Museums & Cultural Sites

Landmarks include the Coney Island Boardwalk, Luna Park, the New York Aquarium, MCU Park (home of the Brooklyn Cyclones), Nathan's Famous, and the wide public beach along the Atlantic.

NYCHA Developments in Coney Island

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

Development	Neighborhood	Address	Units
Surfside Gardens	Coney Island	2925 W 30th St	598
O'Dwyer Gardens	Coney Island	2950 W 33rd St	572
Carey Gardens	Coney Island	2926 W 23rd St	—
Coney Island Houses	Coney Island	2926 Surf Ave	—

Coney Island is best known for its boardwalk and amusement parks, but for voucher holders it is also one of southern Brooklyn's most important neighborhoods for subsidized housing. A dense cluster of NYCHA developments runs along Surf and Mermaid Avenues, and much of the surrounding rental stock is income-restricted or voucher-friendly.

Why Coney Island works for voucher families

Rents across much of Coney Island fall within voucher payment standards, so a Housing Choice Voucher, CityFHEPS, or FHEPS reliably covers unit costs. The neighborhood has a meaningful supply of two- and three-bedroom apartments, and the concentration of NYCHA and Mitchell-Lama housing means subsidized options are unusually deep for a beachfront area.

Your rights as a voucher holder here

New York protects renters from source-of-income discrimination statewide under the Human Rights Law (Executive Law sections 292 and 296), strengthened by the 2019 Source of Income Non-Discrimination Act. A landlord in Coney Island generally cannot refuse you, charge more, or advertise "no programs" because you would pay with a voucher. You can file a complaint with the NYC Commission on Human Rights or the New York State Division of Human Rights.

A note on flooding and resiliency

Coney Island sits in a coastal flood zone and was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. NYCHA has since invested heavily in floodproofing, backup generators, and building upgrades across the Coney Island developments, so many buildings have been substantially modernized.

How to find a unit

Apply to NYCHA and to HPD project-based buildings through Housing Connect at housingconnect.nyc.gov. For the private market, look for voucher-friendly listings and work with brokers and local groups like Astella Development. Bring your voucher paperwork so you can act quickly.

Get help

Free housing specialists and legal-aid groups serving Coney Island can help you search, apply, and enforce your rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Coney Island a good area for voucher holders?: Yes. Coney Island has a large concentration of NYCHA and other subsidized housing, rents that generally fall within voucher payment standards, and a meaningful supply of family-sized apartments.
Can a landlord in Coney Island refuse my voucher?: Generally no. New York's statewide Human Rights Law bans source-of-income discrimination, so most landlords cannot refuse you just because you pay with a Housing Choice Voucher, CityFHEPS, or FHEPS.
How do I find Section 8 housing in Coney Island?: Apply to NYCHA and to HPD project-based buildings through Housing Connect (housingconnect.nyc.gov), and search the private market with voucher-friendly brokers and local groups like Astella Development.