AC,

As part of my history both domestically and professionally, I quoted on jobs or structures as was required.
I ran some quick numbers based on the $1,000 per 'unit', you mention.
I was immediately impressed with your concept.
However upon closer examination and a somewhat more detailed breakdown of the structure and the labour content, I found the figure of $1,000 to 'appear' to be a little ambitious, although commendable.
The overall cost will be greater than $1,000, but still a worthy endeavour.
The hurdle is not the creation and locating of these "villages", but the on going costs.
This can only be achieved if we start diverting money from stupid far fetched ideologies and put THAT money into these kinds of projects.
Again, it either won't happen or if it does, it will be fleeced by some govt minister and his mate under some bogus company, which will be as effective as all the other public services, run by both govt and/or private sector.

Actually the mental institutions were closed not to save money, but after a concerted campaign by the psychiatrist & the do gooders to move the poor souls back into the community.

As all things by idiots, psychiatrist, greens & bleeding hearts they failed to have any idea of the consequences of this, & we got thousands of those who needed incarceration for their own good, living on the street.

I've actually been to this village in Fiji;

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-04/australian-builds-storm-proof-homes-for-fiji-poorest/6444182

I'd rather live in Koroipita, Pete's Village, than most of Lautoka. $12k to a poor Fijian is the equivalent to $12 million to a poor Australian. Don't knock em', should see how some people live in Fiji.

This is not it,

http://www.fiji.travel/us/destinations/denarau-island

Paul,

I like the idea but two things come to mind, $12,000 is alot of money in Fiji.
And the fact that it's stud wall, wood construction, I am impressed if they can withstand 350km/h winds.
I tend towards the container idea for many more benefits than either local construction/assembly or flat pack design.
Good to see there are moves afoot in this direction.
It's a shame, but I had hoped, many years ago that Australia would take the lead, in this type of endeavour.
We have all the necessary criteria and the money to do it, only lacking the political will.
Ah well, maybe after a few other countries have stepped up to the plate, we might finally take the plunge, but I fear we will have to get virtue shamed before it will happen.

ALTRAV, what the government did build in Sydney some years back were "micro units". These units were very small, about 20m sq. floor area. Walk in lounge/bed room, a night and day sofa or single bed, a small table, 2 chairs, a coffee table with the TV on. The kitchenette, basic, small fridge, sink, a few cupboards. The shower, no room for a bath, just a shower cubical, communal laundry etc, washing m/c's forever broken. You would feel claustrophobic living in one, but better than living under a tarp.

The problem was not the units, small as they were, but rather the people living in them. Many were ill-equipped for living on their own, needed day workers to come in, up to 5 days a week, clean, taken them shopping. Then there were the neighbours, some psychiatric types who should have been locked up, not living in a community. They lumped all sorts of people together, big mistake. Basically you had to wait for someone to die to get into these, if you were lucky.

Once put a bloke, about 40 odd, in a private unit at the back of a house in well off sub. Lovely landlady she really wanted to do something for someone , nice self contained unit, private entrance down the side passage, great place. I had my concerns about "Fred", at times he seemed to have the mind of a 5 year old. When "Fred" was homeless he used to graffiti a lot, with a large black texta pen. Been there a couple of days, and to thank the landlady, he goes out to the street and decorates a white car with his black texta pen, he did a real good job, it wasn't even her car. Cops etc, but "Fred" was of the belief he was showing his gratitude, he couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

"Fred" was of the belief he was showing his gratitude,
Paul1405,
So what did you end up doing about Fred ? There used to be places for the Freds' of this World but as per usual the academic do-gooders thought they knew better thus creating this problem now.