states on the west coast are very popular for having artist co-ops. They are basically when a bunch of artists purchase a motel/hotel like building and rent the rooms out to other artists for very little money. The idea being a ton of people living together creates very low payments - and sometimes payments are even forgiven if it is an off time for art. Typically, the requirement to live in one is that you have to be artist of some amount. Some places require a certain level of skill, others take anybody.