The city is testing a new form of modular, multi-family emergency shelters specifically suited to New York's dense housing tracts. Resembling shipping containers, the units can be stacked as needed and are designed for fast construction.

The city has already been working with dozens of housing manufacturers on the prototype, and expects that thousands of units could be deployed in a matter of weeks if necessary. The idea is to keep the recently homeless in their current neighborhood where they have access to friends, schools and other support.

The models shown here -- a one-bedroom and two three-bedroom units, are expected to cost between $90,000 and $160,000 each. They are designed to house people for many years -- avoiding the need to hastily rebuild -- and can also be converted to permanent structures.

Make a shipping container your home for less than $185K