Andrew Woodward’s apartment in the FP3 condo development in Fort Point

When Andrew Woodward, 33, was displaced from his artist cooperative in Fort Point two years ago, he was scrambling to find affordable housing and studio space.

Fortunately for the painter, three affordable units were built at the luxury FP3 condo development on Congress Street, specifically earmarked for artist living. Woodward and his wife were chosen through a city lottery to purchase a unit at 50 percent of the market value.

“It is very difficult to find affordable artist housing. The Fort Point area is pretty much done with affordable housing,” says Woodward, whose wife Jessica is a furniture designer. “Artists make a difference for the vibrancy of the city.”

With Boston real estate being among the priciest in the nation, finding affordable housing and workspace is a struggle for local artists. But options exist.

Both the city and state offer resources to help artists find affordable space, and incentives to builders and artists looking to develop their own units.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council — a state organization — created ArtistLink, a Web site that helps creative types locate appropriate housing statewide, and the Boston Redevelopment Authority has a list of city spaces for rent and sale. The BRA has helped place 178 artists in recent years.

“The city of Boston recognized it had a population of artists that were being displaced,” says Jay Nagel, director of ArtistLink. “We want to serve artist populations because we think they are good for the community.”

Nagel claims Jamaica Plain, South Boston, Roxbury and Hyde Park have become hotbeds for working artists because they have been priced out of many of the downtown neighborhoods.

The Dartmouth Hotel in Dudley Square has six lofts for rent, and The Artist Lofts at Westinghouse in Hyde Park has 61 units for sale, according to city and state listings.