Section 8 Apartments in St. George

Transit Access

St. George has the only ferry terminal on Staten Island, providing 24/7 free service to Lower Manhattan (25 minutes). The Staten Island Railway begins at St. George Terminal and runs south to Tottenville. The S40, S46, S48, S51, S52, S62, S66, S76, S86, S90, and S98 buses serve the neighborhood. The X1, X8, X10, X12, X14, X15, X17, X42 express buses provide direct service to Manhattan during commute hours. St. George is the only Staten Island neighborhood with direct subway-equivalent transit (via the ferry).

Voucher Housing in St. George

St. George has the most active voucher housing market on Staten Island. Section 8 landlord acceptance is strong in pre-war apartment buildings along Bay Street, Hyatt Street, Stuyvesant Place, and Victory Boulevard. CityFHEPS landlord acceptance has grown since 2024 payment standard increases. NYCHA's Markham Gardens and Richmond Terrace Houses provide significant public housing inventory in the area. Studios typically run $1,300-$1,700; one-bedrooms $1,500-$1,900; two-bedrooms $1,700-$2,300; three-bedrooms $2,100-$2,700.

Local Services & Resources

Parks, Museums & Cultural Sites

NYCHA Developments in St. George

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

History & Voucher Demographics

St. George developed in the late 19th century as Staten Island''s primary commercial and ferry terminal area. The Staten Island Ferry has connected St. George to Manhattan continuously since the 1810s; the current free service was established in 1997. St. George is home to Staten Island Borough Hall, the Staten Island Supreme Court, and the borough''s primary government and commercial center.

Through the 20th century, St. George evolved from a predominantly white working-class neighborhood to today''s diverse community. Significant Liberian immigration in the 1990s-2000s established Staten Island as having one of the largest Liberian communities outside Liberia; many Liberians settled in St. George and adjacent North Shore neighborhoods.

The neighborhood has experienced significant new development in recent years, including the Empire Outlets shopping center (2018) and ongoing waterfront residential development. The proposed Lighthouse Point development would add additional residential and commercial space.

Schools

St. George is within NYC DOE Community School District 31, which covers the entire borough of Staten Island. North Shore schools serving St. George include:

Notable schools: P.S. 18 John G. Whittier, P.S. 16 John J. Driscoll, IS 27 Anning S. Prall, Curtis High School (one of the largest Staten Island high schools, historic 1904 building).

Many St. George area schools serve substantial voucher and Section 8 families, with universal free breakfast and lunch, after-school programs through DYCD, and bilingual support staff in Spanish and other languages.

Voucher Landscape

St. George has the most active voucher housing market on Staten Island. The neighborhood concentrates much of the borough''s voucher inventory due to:

• Pre-war apartment building stock along Bay Street, Hyatt Street, Stuyvesant Place, Victory Boulevard
• Several adjacent NYCHA developments (Markham Gardens, Cassidy-Lafayette Houses, Richmond Terrace Houses, Stapleton Houses)
• Lower market rents than other Staten Island areas
• Proximity to the Ferry Terminal making it the most transit-accessible Staten Island neighborhood
• Active community-based housing development efforts

Building stock:

• Pre-war apartment buildings (3-6 story) along the major corridors
• Smaller multi-family converted houses on residential side streets
• Several NYCHA developments in adjacent neighborhoods
• Newer waterfront developments (generally not voucher-accepting)

Section 8 acceptance is strong in pre-war buildings; CityFHEPS has grown significantly since 2024.

Liberian Community

St. George and adjacent North Shore Staten Island neighborhoods host one of the largest Liberian-American communities outside Liberia, estimated at 30,000+ residents. The community has its own community organizations (African Refuge, Staten Island Liberian Community Association), churches, restaurants, and cultural events. For Liberian voucher families, the community provides cultural infrastructure unmatched elsewhere in the U.S.

The neighborhood also has substantial Sri Lankan, West African (Nigerian, Ghanaian), Caribbean, and Mexican American communities.

Transit Reality

St. George has unique transit characteristics:

• Staten Island Ferry: Free 25-minute service to Manhattan, every 15-30 minutes 24/7. Connects to multiple subway lines at Whitehall Terminal (1, R, W, 4, 5).
• Staten Island Railway: Begins at St. George Terminal and runs south to Tottenville. Connects North Shore voucher communities to the rest of Staten Island.
• Multiple buses: S40, S46, S48, S51, S52, S62, S66, S76, S86, S90, S98, and express buses (X1, X8, X10, X12, X14, X15, X17, X42) connect St. George to other parts of Staten Island and Manhattan.

For voucher families with Manhattan jobs, the St. George area offers the fastest Staten Island commute — 45-55 minutes total to Midtown via ferry plus subway.

Recent Development

St. George has experienced significant recent development:

• Empire Outlets (2018): 350,000 sq ft outlet shopping center near the ferry
• Bay Street Corridor Rezoning: NYC rezoning of the Bay Street area to add residential and mixed-use development, including affordable housing requirements
• National Lighthouse Museum (2015): Maritime museum
• Postponed Lighthouse Point: Proposed waterfront development, ongoing planning
• Ongoing waterfront investments

Source-of-Income Enforcement

St. George has documented source-of-income discrimination, particularly from larger management companies and newer developments. Staten Island Legal Services handles source-of-income cases for the entire borough. Contact them or file with NYC CCHR.

Local Organizations

• Staten Island NAACP: Civil rights advocacy
• Project Hospitality: Homelessness services and food pantries
• El Centro del Inmigrante: Spanish-language services (based in Port Richmond, serves St. George)
• African Refuge: Liberian community organization
• Staten Island Liberian Community Association: Liberian community programs
• Staten Island Legal Services: Free housing legal aid

For broader Staten Island context, see our Staten Island borough guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the commute from St. George to Manhattan?

The Staten Island Ferry runs 24/7 from St. George to Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan (free, 25 minutes). From Whitehall, the 1, R, W, 4, and 5 trains provide quick access to most of Manhattan. Total commute time to Midtown is roughly 45-55 minutes via ferry plus subway.

Where can I find voucher housing near St. George?

Pre-war apartment buildings along Bay Street, Hyatt Street, Stuyvesant Place, and Victory Boulevard have the most Section 8 acceptance. The blocks within a 10-15 minute walk of the ferry terminal have the most active voucher market.