A recent interesting development is the glut of Shipping Containers that are starting to pile up around the world. China needs them to package the flood of exports coming from their factories but once they reach their destination, they are not valuable enough to "return to sender".
Inonvative conpanies have begun to expore credative ways to turn this "container flood" into affortable housing for people around the world.
Before you dismiss this idea out of hand, take a look at some of the things that are being done today.