While many affordable housing initiatives help provide shelter for homeless individuals, some of these projects are also targeted at consumers who simply can't afford conventional housing. With a greater number of people moving to cities each year, urban housing often comes at a premium. For those who have little or no income, affordable housing initiatives help provide a comfortable living space.
For many homeless and low-income individuals, a stable living situation is a primary concern. Many of these social housing initiatives seek to provide not only shelter, but also supportive services that may help these individuals overcome homelessness. Some of the most innovative homeless housing solutions include micro housing communities, pre-fabricated abodes and even converted shipping container homes.
Other affordable housing initiatives are targeted at those who may not be homeless, but are unable to avoid the sky-high costs of urban living. For those on a tight budget, there are a number of innovative housing options that utilize eco-friendly building materials and unorthodox architecture. Some of these affordable housing options include sustainable bamboo homes, seamless green skyscrapers and even boat residences.
53 Affordable Housing Initiatives
From Repurposed Shipping Shelters to Seamless Green Skyscrapers:
Katherine Pendrill — Jul 14, 2015 — Eco
53
Portable Prefabricated Rooms
Expand Your Home Space with Inoutside's Prefabricated Buildings
52
Compact Sustainable Houses
The Smart Student Unit is an Inexpensive Option
51
Revolutionary Micro-Home Initiatives
The Miniature Housing Project of Portland is Making Waves
50
Cardboard Homeless Shelters
Urbankit is a Low-Cost Refuge to Remedy Immediate Needs of the Needy
49
Homeless Microhouse Communities
This Project Provides Sustainable Tiny Housing for the Homeless
48
Transportable Homeless Shelters
The Urban Rough Sleeper Backpack Helps Support the Homeless
47
Eco-Friendly Portuguese Homes
Miramar House is Located in a Picturesque Portuguese Town
46
Affordable Tiny Homes
This Well-Designed Tiny Home is Located In Vancouver
45
Affordable Prefabricated Homes
The S-House Could Represent Suitable Housing For Vietnam's Poor
44
Brutalist Sci-Fi Houses
The Star Wars Home by Moon Hoon is Inspired by a Childhood Dream
43
Inexpensive Bamboo Homes
The Framework House is Targeted Towards Low-Income Cambodians
42
Low-Budget Housing Projects
This Vietnamese Housing Project Addresses an Urgent Issue
41
Boxed Timber Architecture
The Casa GG Takes Minimalism to a Whole New Level
40
Solar-Powered Tiny Homes
This Tiny Home Was Designed By Californian High School Students
39
Inexpensive Disaster-Proof Homes
Sustainable.TO's Hurricane-Proof Design is a Competition Winner
38
Affordable Shipping Container Abodes
The Alexander Street Project Gives People in Need Nice Homes
37
Stripped-Down Houses
The Maison D is a Utilitarian and Affordable Family Home
36
Inexpensive Customizable Cabins
This A-Frame Cabin Enables Consumers to Build It as They Please
35
Upcycled Construction Trailer Dwellings
This Construction Trailer Got Made into a Small Residence
34
Charitable Housing Designs
Casa Uno by Hans Mayr Helps Homeless Mexican Families Find Shelter
33
Mass Produced Retreats (UPDATE)
The 'Lou' is the Latest Addition to the Hermit Houses
32
Recycled Mobile Homeless Shelters
The Homelessness Project Uses Discarded Items to Provide Housing
31
Carbon Positive Houses
This Prefab Home Only Uses a Tiny Fraction of the Energy It Generates
30
Socially-Conscious Mexican Residences
The Casa Caja House by S-AR Empowers Local Labourers
29
House-Converted Billboards
DesignDevelop Turns Ads into Shelters for the Homeless
28
Affordable Timber Residences
This Low-Cost Home is the First of Its Kind in Copenhagen
27
Stacked Cube Skyscrapers
This Sustainable Skyscraper Houses a Flexible Mixed-Use Interior
26
3D-Printed Houses
This 3D Printer Can Build Ten Houses in a Day Using Recycled Materials
25
Bamboo Homeless Shelters
These Bamboo Structures Could Provide Housing for Asia's Homeless
24
Homeless-Helping Micro-Homes (UPDATE)
These Miniature Homes Provide Housing for the Homeless
23
Homeless Housing Solutions
Utah's Housing Works Program is Set to End Homelessness This Year
22
Irregular Cubic Homes
This Prefabricated House is Low on Cost and High on Space
21
Inflatable Heat-Sharing Shelters
The paraSITE Shelter Turns Excess Heat into Comfortable Living
20
Mobile Homeless Shelters
The State of Hawaii is Turning Retired City Buses into Working Shelters
19
Compact Glazed Abodes
The Family House Features a Gable Wall
18
Vertical Tent Pods
A-KAMP47 by Malka Architecture Provides Shelter for the Homeless
17
Multipurpose Container Buildings
Tomokazu Hayakawa Architects Expands on a Shipping Container
16
Housing Revolution Enterprises
Seruna Future is a Community Interest Company Based in London
15
Portable Winter Shelters
This Sleeping Bag Converts into a Tent on the Go
14
Geometric Igloo Abodes
Marcello’s House by Ctrl+Z and NoSoloPaja Displays a Whimsical Design
13
Affordable Capsule Hotels
The EauBerge Paris Capsule Hotel Will Be Located On The Seine River Bank
12
Repurposed Shipping Shelters
This Homeless Housing Solution Recycles Used Shipping Containers
11
Paper Log Abodes
Shigeru Ban Constructs Temporary Shelters to Help the Philippines
10
Crowded Shelter Solutions
James Christian's Disruptive Designs Address London's Housing Crisis
9
Innovation-Focused Districts
The Miami Innovation District Will Foster Creative Tech Ideas
8
Elderly Homesharing Services
This Service Enables Homesharing for Seniors Currently Living Alone
7
Understated Plywood Residences
The Brick House by Leth and Gori Embraces Modernist Design Details
6
Plastic Crate Shelters
These Shelters are Made with Easily Accessible Materials
5
Undulating Semicircle Architecture
La Tour Tower by 3XN Has a Flowing Design
4
Reimagined Boat Residences
The Guest Harbor Project Envisions Boats as Side Houses
3
Sociable Apartment Complexes
This Affordable Apartment Building Incorporates Color and Playfulness
2
Seamless Green Skyscrapers
SCDA Architecture Creates the 'Skyterrace@Dawson'
1
Trailblazing Swedish Skyscrapers
'Pole Star' Will Be the Tallest Building in Scandinavia
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Balcony-Accented Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes 'Bivouac' Tiny House is Well-Equipped
Recycled Plastic Tiny Homes
Gary Bencheghib's Home in Bali is Made with 35,000 Plastic Bags
Three-Bedroom Tiny Homes
The Uncharted Tiny Homes 'Estate' is Compact Yet Spaciously Designed
Expandable-Roof Tiny Homes
This Unique Tiny House Benefits From a Mechanically Liftable Roof
Shipping Container Homes
Rakhee Shobhit Design Associates Creates Two Residential Units in India
Tiny Home Kits
The Home Depot Getaway Pad Provides Extra Space Outside the Home
Japanese-Inspired Portable Tiny Homes
Baluchon Designs the Portable Bonzai Tiny Home
Self-Sustaining Timber Tiny Homes
The Madeiguincho 'Vigia' Tiny House Prioritizes Natural Light
Storage-Laden Tiny Homes
This Bright Tiny Home Packs Generous Storage In Limited Space
Couple-Only Tiny Homes
Uncharted Tiny Homes The Limited Tiny House is Small But Mighty
Rooftop Patio Tiny Homes
The Ticab House Tiny House N 2 Makes Use of All Available Space
Angular Artistic Tiny Homes
The Ibiza Tiny House Captures Mediterranean Style for Comfy Living
Futuristic Capsule House Concepts
The ONCO Capsule House Concept is Sleek and Minimal
Sculptural Refugee Shelters
This Refugee Shelter Design Focuses on Flexibility and Airflow
Floating Bamboo Houses
This Vietnamese House Aims to Protect Residents From Rising Water Levels
Pink-Hued Shipping Container Homes
These Pink Shipping Container Homes by Ishita Ganguly are Chic
Experimental Low-Carbon Housing
Velux & EFFEKT Debut Is Low-Carbon Housing Designs in Copenhagen
3D-Printed House Neighborhoods
EYRC and Mighty Buildings Develop the Suburbs of the Future
Capaciously Compact Houses
This Spacious Tiny Home Allows For Elegantly Comfortable Living
Cat-Centric Compact Homes
This Japanese Dwelling Embraces Feline-Friendly Design Choices
Cube-Combining Tiny Homes
This Unique Tiny Home Uses Modular Spaces to Enable Flexible Use
Displaced Persons House Designs
The Essential Homes Research Project Has a Bunker-Like Form
Accessible DIY Housing Strategies
Manuel Cervantes Estudio Promotes "Assisted Self-Production"
Feline-Friendly Tiny Homes
This Luxurious Tiny Home Boasts a Number Of Cat-Centric Features
Spaciously Cozy Homes
This Off-Grid Tiny Home Offers Efficiently Laid-Out Floorspace
Shipping Container Tiny Homes
UnContained Dreams Designs the Rising Sun Tiny Home
Fully Recyclable 3D-Printed Homes
The BioHome3D is Constructed from Sustainable Materials
Mobile Office Tiny Homes
The Uncharted Tiny Homes 'The Office' Can Be Taken on the Road
Sustainable Pop-Up Shelters
The Maawa X is Ultra-Compact and Can Fit into a Suitcase
Autonomous Timber Transportation Shuttles
The Conceptual 'Timber Shuttle' is Eco-Focused
Energy-Efficient 3D-Printed Homes
Haus.me Introduces Premium Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Garden-Centering Urban Townhouses
This Vietnamese Home's Layout is Arranged Around an Inner Garden
Affordable 3D-Printed Houses
Serendix's Fujitsubo is Remarkable in the Realm of Affordable Housing
Prefabricated Miniature Home Concepts
i29 Creates the Câpsula Concept for Dutch Design Week
Shutter-Accented Tiny Homes
The houzEKO Tiny House Offers All-Season Efficiency and Privacy
Versatile Interior Compact Homes
The Elevate Tiny Home Transforms the Interiors with a Button
Futuristic Auto Micro Factories
Most Architecture Unveils a Modern Factory for Charge Cars
Consolidated Camping Shelters
The 'Space Acacia' System is Hyper-Durable and Waterproof
Sustainable German Homes
Atelier Kaiser Shen Design a Sustainable & Clean Home in a German Village
Public-Oriented Furniture Exhibits
Furnishing Utopia's Jean Lee Displays Furniture for Public Use
Sustainable Floating Cork Homes
Studio RAP Designs the Float Home Made from Cork and Timber
Contemporary Sustainable Tiny Homes
The Cosmic ONE is Offered in Three Compact Home Layouts
Minimal Mid-Century Hollywood Homes
Studio Qasabian Designs the Mulholland Home in LA
Miniature Insulated Home Solutions
Ark Tiny Homes Designs a New Converted Shipping Container Home
Tranquil Elevated Tiny Homes
Jan Tyrpekl Designs the Cozy Zen House in Austria
Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Homes
The 'SON.DER' Home Offers Environmentally Responsible Living
Digital Sustainable Food Solutions
Special Projects Debuts Eco Lenses to Help with Decision-Making
Flax Fiber Floating Homes
The Conceptual 'Blue Nomad' Floating Home is Sustainable
Cosmetic Sustainability Projects
LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics Announces Sustainability Initiative
Minimalist Adventurer Tiny Homes
The Noyer Tiny House On Wheels Prioritizes Sustainability
Sphere-Shaped Skyscrapers
The 'Skyscraper City of Tiankeng' Has Different Microclimate Spheres
Sustainable Smart Cottages
The LG Smart Cottage is a Compact Prefab with Cutting-Edge Tech
Mockup-Inspired Garden Structures
New Affiliates & Samuel Stewart-Halevy Create Testbeds
Eco-Friendly Bio-Composite Roof Tiles
Studio SKLIM's Lo-Hi Tech Project with Solar Paneling
Upgraded Off-Grid Tiny Homes
Minimaliste Designs the Nomad 30 Small Home with Improved Interior
Japanese Inn-Inspired Apartments
Intheory Design Creates an Apartment Inspired by Ryokan
Modern Amenity Micro Dwellings
The Little Tahoma Peak Tiny Home Has House-Inspired Finishings
Modern Multi-Purpose Japanese Buildings
Akio Isshiki Architect Overhauls an Old Wooden Building
Stylishly Renovated Apartments
Malfinio Revamps a 19th-Century Building in Prague
Hempcrete-Accented Patchwork Facades
Cathie Curran Designs the Hempcrete Mewshouse
Ultra-Compact Bungalow Designs
Satish Jassal Architects Completes the Haringey Brick Bungalow
Bauhaus-Inspired Mobile Doghouses
Conran and Partners Design the New Bowowhaus Doghouse
Remodelled Denim-Detailed Modern Apartments
Studio Edwards Remodels the Microloft in Melboune
Socializing-Centric Tiny Dwellings
The 'Buttercup' Tiny Home Lets You Have Guests Over
Balearic Island Housing Projects
The Life Reusing Posidonia Project has 14 Dwellings on the Island
Experimental Prototype Exhibitions
Stephen Burks Creates Designs for Global Crises
Urban Structural Street Furniture
BLUE Architecture Studio Designs the Symbiotic Urban Furniture
Upcycled Tower Designs
3XN Shows How Sustainable and Cost-Cffective Reuse Can Be
Energy-Efficient Office Buildings
This Czech Office Complex is Outfitted With Eco-Friendly Designs
Compact Refurbished Micro-Homes
Enrico Sassi Transforms a New Stone Dual Level Home
Award-Winning Housing Designs
Hong-En Lin Emphasizes the Importance of Clean Water Access
Bio-Based Compact Housing
Woonpioniers Designs the Sustainable Sprout Ruben & Marjolein House
Housing Crisis Presentation Campaigns
IKEA Woks with Shelter to Create Four Real Life Roomsets
Prefabricated Exposed Structural Homes
Workshop Architecture Inc Designs the Unfinished House
Micro-City Housing Nooks
Notan Office Transforms an Industrial Site in Brussels
Green Medium-Density Developments
Brahn Smillie-Fearn Consolidates Built & Natural Environments
Bamboo-Inspired Cultural Buildings
This Cultural Center Seamlessly Blends Into its Surroundings
Rejuvenated Former Bank Buildings
This Dutch Building Now Boasts Solar Panels & Insect Hotels
Flood-Mitigating Wooden Homes
Ushijima Architects Designs a New Small Home in Shiga Prefecture
Accelerated Modular Housing Construction
David Baker Architects Pushes for Housing in San Fran
Cohesive Co-Operative Housing Projects
Tsukasa Ono Designs the Sumi Yakashima Housing Project
Off-Grid Self-Sufficient Island Homes
Vollebak and Bjarke Ingels Design the Earth House in Canada
Waste Tarp-Made Public Seating
The Membran Collective Joins the Urban Networks Project
Community-Centric Office Spaces
Shubin Donaldson Architects Designs the Tricon Residential Office
Elevated Timber-Clad Homes
Habitable Form Designs the Victory Bay House on Kiawah Island
Sustainably Built Canopied Buildings
Kevin Daly Architecture Designs a Foundation's Headquarters
Affordable Tiny Home Communities
Durham Region Launches a Tiny Home Project to End Homelessness
Self-Sustaining Houses
Archiopteryx Designs the People Tree House in Noida, India
Multifunctional Circular Housing Blocks
Gensler's EVE Park Design has Integrated EV Parking Towers
Upgraded Historic Buildings
Kohn Shnier and ERA Architects Renovate a U of T Building
Reconfigured Spacious Brooklyn Homes
Light & Air Design the Z House with an Open and Bright Look
Colorful Social Housing Blocks
Gluck+ Completes the Van Sinderen Plaza Along a Subway Line
AI Green Financing Platforms
Singapore's AI Initiative for Sustainable Finance in Real Estate
Updated Sustainable API Features
Google Adds New Features to its Ingenious Project Sunroof
Pixelated Illusion Housing
Ben Van Berkel Creates the Van B Housing with Rieder's Help
Biodiversity-Supporting Homes
Miguel Mesa del Castillo Collaborates on a Climate-Friendly Home
Environmentally Blending Residences
A Threshold Studio Designs the Ineffable Light Home
Multifunctional Vietnamese Homes
H-H Studio Designs the House for Young Families in Da Nang
Wastewater-Powered Buildings
SHARC is Being Implemented in Two Bronx High-Rises
Welcoming Skyscraperes
RSHP Unveils Its Design for a 212 Meters Tall Tower in Shenzhen, China
Welcoming Prefabricated Student Housing
Ignacio Prego Architectures Designs New Student Housing
Land Trust Housing Blocks
Archio Completes an Apartment Complex for London Community Land Trust
Pop-Up Event Companies
'Steel Space Concepts' Provides Mobile Structures for In-Person Events
Steel-Cladded Social Housing
Christ & Gantenbein Creates a Block of Social Housing in Paris
Global Affordable Housing Competitions
ICON Challenging Architects & Designers with Initiative 99
Light-Maximizing Animal Shelters
Garrison Architects Builds the Staten Island Animal Rescue Center
Modern Mobile Futuristic Homes
Nestron Presents its Range of Contemporary Tiny Homes
Glass Bridge-Connected Small Homes
PJCArchitecture Finishes a Micro-Home Design in Ecuador
Modern Concrete Community Residences
AOA Architects Designs the Hoji Gangneung Dwellings
Office-Transformed Co-Living Spaces
HUB & Bridges Fund Management Present its Cornerstone Project
Affordable Lifestyle Directories
'I Have This Friend' Makes Aspirational Living More Accessible
Eco-Friendly Refurbished Studios
Workers of Art Presents the WOA Second Home in Kochi
Waterfront Social Housing
Studioninedots Designed Stepped Buildings in Amsterdam,
Wood-Clad Relaxing Housing Blocks
Shigeru Ban Designs a New Range of Housing Along Nieuw Zuid
Sustainable Cubic Homes
Appels Architekten Designs a New Wooden Home in Germany
Climate-Managing Greenhouse Concepts
Salazar Sequero Medina Designs the Livable Greenhouse Home
Retail Accessibility Frameworks
Starbucks Has Unveiled the Inclusive Spaces Framework
Sustainable Red Utilitarian Homes
David Kohn Architects Designs the Red House in Southwest England
3D-Printed Public Pavilion Prototypes
Hassell Works with Nagami on a New Public Pavilion
Low-Carbon Student Housing Crescents
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Designs Housing in Cambridge
Energy-Efficient Headquarter Buildings
The New 'Bench' Building Prioritizes Sustainable Design
Modular Tent Classroom Designs
Zaha Hadid Architects Designs a Series of Classrooms for Refugees
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Flexible Coliving Platforms
The 'Coliving' Platform Helps Workers Find an All-Inclusive Place
Affordable Public Transport Initiatives
Germany Offers Unlimited Public Transit for €49 Monthly
Unconventional Chinese Housing Estates
Atelier GOM Designs the Longnan Garden Estate
Urban Green Space Overhauls
Four of London's green spaces will receive a makeover
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
City-Honoring Furniture Projects
The Symbiotic Urban Furniture Project is Imaginative
Sustainability-Focused Building Renovations
Climate Group Launches the Renovation Revolution
Illuminating Water-Based Pavillions
Daniel Ryabakken Installs the Shelter Pavilion in Stockholm
Charitable Hygiene Supply Initiatives
Purse Project Collects Personal Care Goods for Those in Need
Eco-Friendly Antarctic Research Buildings
The 'Discovery Building' Aims to Cut Carbon Emissions
Art Deco Affordable Housing
the La Brea Affordable Housing Project Takes Place in LA
Waste-Reducing Eco Partnerships
This Year City Furniture Partnered with Habitat of Humanity
Alternative Housing Co-Living Buildings
French 2D Designs the Bay State Cohousing Complex
Childhood-Inspired Generational Homes
AUN Design Studio Creates the New Reflection House
Disaster-Ready Housing Prototypes
Holcim & Norman Foster Join on the Essential Homes Project
Accessible Home Services Marketplaces
Urban Company Recently Made Its Platform More Accessible
Repurposed Imperfection-Embraced Buildings
Civic Architects & VDNVP Elevate a Series of Workspaces