Housing Resources

It can be difficult to create without a stable housing situation. The organizations listed below provide helpful housing resources, from rental assistance to artist housing and advice.

Entertainment Community Fund
NYFA is pleased to partner with the Entertainment Community Fund, a national service organization with a robust program of artist housing resources. The Entertainment Community Fund offers seminars and webinars on how to find affordable housing, hosts an online housing resource center and bulletin board, and administers the Entertainment Assistance Program (EAP), which provides emergency financial assistance to maintain stable housing and prevent eviction for qualifying entertainment professionals. Create a free account to access free webinars and classes in affordable housing as well as health, well-being, finances, insurance and more. In addition, ECF offers affordable housing residencies to performing artists in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles, as well as an assisted living home in Englewood, New Jersey.
New York City Telephone: 800-221-7303
Chicago Telephone: 312-372-0989
Los Angeles Telephone: 888-825-0911
Email: [email protected]

ArtBuilt
ArtBuilt’s mission is to help artists build assets and equity through financial literacy, homeownership, self-sufficiency and the responsible use of credit. The site offers a number of thorough online handbooks and links to relevant services.
Email: [email protected]

ArtSpace
Artspace is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create, foster, and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations. One of the ways the organization serves its mission is to provide affordable live/work units for artists and their families as well as non-residential space for artists, arts organizations and creative enterprises. With headquarters in Minneapolis and offices in Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, and Washington DC, Artspace runs a network of 33 affordable arts facilities in 13 states.
Telephone: (612) 333-9012

ArtistSpace – Boston
Administered by the Boston Redevelopment Authority, this program allocates affordable live/work and work only spaces to qualified artists in the Boston area. Artists must pass certification process in order to apply – application on the website.
Telephone: 617-635-4445
Email: [email protected]

Artspace Utah
Artspace is a non-profit organization in Utah that creates affordable live and work space for artists, cultural organizations, nonprofits and others. They currently have 5 spaces with residential, live/work, and work spaces.
Telephone: (801) 531-9378

Breaking Ground
Breaking Ground offers affordable housing for low-income working professionals and the formerly homeless, some of whom live with HIV/AIDS, mental illness, or physical disabilities. In addition, most of their buildings offer a wide array of on-site support services, recreational activities, and amenities.
Central Intake Hotline: (800) 324- 7055

The Compound Baltimore
The Compound Baltimore provides affordable and sustainable spaces to Baltimore’s artists and artisans.
Email: [email protected]

Curley School Artisan Apartments – Ajo, AZ
The Curley School Artisan Apartments is a live/work space program run by International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA). Located in a converted historic public school in Ajo, Arizona, the residence is comprised of 30 affordable live/work rentals for artists, artisans and creative home businesses.
Telephone: 520-387-8988

Dorchester Art + Housing Collaborative – Chicago, IL
A residential community designed for working artists, and for families looking to immerse themselves in an art-centered environment.
Telephone: 773-324-2270

Listings Project
The Listings Project is a free weekly email of real estate (live and/or work) and opportunities listings focused on the creative community that the artist Stephanie Diamond puts together. While there is a fee to post on the Listings Project, there is no cost to receive the weekly email. It is sent out every Wednesday morning. Though the service is open to posters anywhere, most listings are for New York City.
Email: [email protected]

Mitchell-Lama Connect
Manhattan Plaza is a large residential complex in midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is open for performing artists earning at least 50% of their income from the performing arts for the last 3 consecutive years, residents of the Community Board #4, and residents 62 and older of the Community Chelsea board.

NYC Affordable Housing Resource Center
On the New York City Affordable Housing Resource Center you will find information on all aspects of City housing, including renting an apartment, buying a home, and apartment maintenance issues. Through the website, you will also find all of the City’s affordable housing lottery listings.

New York City Loft Tenants (NYCLT)
NYCLT is organized by loft tenants for loft tenants to educate newcomers, advocate for tenants’ rights and improve the 2010 NYC Loft Law.
Email: [email protected]

The Palm View
The Palm View is a 40-unit apartment complex providing homes to low-income people with HIV/AIDS in West Hollywood, CA.

Rental Assistance
Online directory of government and nonprofit rental assistance programs for both immediate and long-term needs, organized by city and state.

Schermerhorn House
Schermerhorn House provides 217 units of permanent, affordable housing for single adults, including formerly homeless, individuals with special needs, and low-income working tenants, including local actors and artists.

St. Joe Lofts – New Orleans
St. Joe Lofts offers affordable, income-restricted housing for artists, as well as exhibition and event space.
Telephone: (504) 304-9669

United States Department of Housing and Development Rental Assistance
This is the main hub for rental assistance, with information on public housing, tenant rights, and other federal housing programs across the country.
Telephone: (202) 708-1112