With the U.S. housing market currently plummeting, it's easy to forget that there are places in this hemisphere where the housing choices aren't McMansion or fixer-upper, house or condo, or even owning versus renting. For the approximately one million workers in Mexico's maquiladora factories, housing is often composed of whatever pieces of scrap wood and metal they can cadge together, and the living choices are often reduced to shack, stall, or sleeping under the stars.

While the maquiladora population is poor by U.S. standards, they are gainfully employed at what is often a competitive wage in Mexico. Recognizing the difficulties of finding inexpensive, durable housing in these communities, Brian McCarthy and his partners formed PFNC Global Technologies.

The company, whose initials stand for "Por Fin, Nuestra Casa," or "Finally, a home of our own" hopes to transform abandoned shipping containers (a handy side effect of the U.S. trade deficit) into small, single-family houses for maquiladora workers. Having secured basic funding, PFNC has built a prototype and hopes to begin production in 2009, with an initial goal of 30,000 homes per year.

Dwell reports that the American Institute of Architects has given BSB Designs a 2008 Small Projects Award for its Abod housing unit -- a $1500 solution to South Africa's housing shortage. According to Dwell: "Each home packs flat and can be assembled by four people with a screwdriver and awl (both tools are shipped with the structure). Buyers can add multiple features on to the original 10x12 foot structure, including a kitchen, bathroom, window-walls, and closets. The lightweight steel framework and corrugated walls can be easily disassembled and transported."

The company manufactured the prototype in the United States but has plans to move manufacturing to South Africa soon.

Given the huge homeless problem facing the United States, these could also come in handy here. They're lightweight, easy to assemble, and easy to dissemble and move. At $1500 a pop, the cost is minimal and definitely worth a try.

Of course they're also perfect for a cranky mother in law. Set one up in the backyard and add a barbecue and hose for fully-independent living.