The project involves getting young, unemployed people from the region getting onboard to help convert shipping containers into homes.

So far, one completed container is being used for emergency housing at St Helens.

One of the key drivers of the project is St Helens Neighbourhood House coordinator Trish O'Duffy.

The THRIVE Build project began in 2017 after receiving a $250,000 grant from the Department of State Growth's Training and Work Pathways Program.

The THRIVE initiative is a partnership of key stakeholders in the Break O'Day region, aiming to provide solutions in improving Year 12 outcomes.

"What we were funded for was to provide six people with units out of Certificate II and III in Carpentry," she said. "It offered one new person the opportunity of becoming an apprentice."

"That young person got two years of an apprenticeship through the program, and now he's placed with a permanent builder and he's going to see out his apprenticeship. It's a massive, huge opportunity."

Ms O'Duffy said things were now moving into a different phase.

"Now we're no longer in the training phase," she said.

"We're now in the social enterprise [phase] and the focus is on building affordable homes with a minimal environmental footprint, while also providing prime opportunities for our local people.

"We've had a huge interest from the community," she said.

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She said support for the project had been phenomenal. When launching the project they aimed to get young people involved, however, it appealed to a wide range of ages.

"Some people were long-term unemployed who wanted to reskill," she said.

Feedback from some participants showed that through the program, one of the biggest things for them was the boost in their confidence.

Ms O'Duffy said through the project's wrap-around support, participants had access to personal development, literacy mentoring, and counselling.

"That's been huge," she said. "The ripple effect from this is massive, because the other side of that is the partnerships that we develop.

"The big thing that we want to do is empower people, because we recognise there's lots of ... unemployment, poverty, and social isolation is huge here. We need a lot of strategies, not just one."

The latest shipping container house will also be moved and used as emergency accommodation.

Ms O'Duffy said there had been keen interest from the mainland in the container houses from people who were looking for a seachange.

"They're downsizing. They can't afford larger home, and in some cases they don't want them," she said.

"There's some containers online that you see, with the price of them at $40,000. They're not comparable."

The containers do not use plaster, they're insulated, the cladding means they're cool in summer and warm in winter.

"I really encourage anyone to inquire with us about the cost," she said.

Brian Matthews works for St Helens Neighbourhood House and is a qualified carpenter.

"I used to work at the school as a trainer teaching construction, and Trish came up with the idea of this THRIVE program," he said.

"She asked me if I'd like to take it on, and I said 'yes, I'd love to', so that's how I got involved."

Mr Matthews said the best part about being involved with the program was having individuals involved who really wanted to learn and who give things 100 per cent.

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"That's the reward for me, that someone wants to learn," he said.

"I've got 40 years experience so I've got something to offer, and they take that on board."

Mr Matthews said he had been able to put his four decades of experience into these containers.

"The state is screaming for emergency housing," he said.

"We've got something to offer. Not only that, but we're training people up to take this on themselves."

Break O'Day Trade Training Centre coordinator Darren Lewis said his role in the project consisted of coordinating the operations of the project from a facility level, as well as the promotion of the container to other centres around the state.

"The project demonstrates what Trade Training Centres are all about - community partnerships, regional areas accessing training opportunities, as well as contributing to workforce development in the Break O'Day municipality," he said.

"My favourite moments [have] been witnessing the development of individuals in practical skills, confidence building and personal goals being achieved."

Mr Lewis said building the containers was a longer process than you would witness in the industry, due to the project being targeting around training.

"As the build gets further towards completion, participants skills and time management improve, and they are ready to commence the next container with a more confident approach," he said.

Tasmania Building Group Apprenticeship Scheme's Darren Turner said for the first container, their role was to employ an apprentice through the THRIVE build.

"That apprentice is now in his third year," he said. "He'll be finishing not this year, but next."

"Moving forward, we'll be training Chantelle [Cleaver] on five units of her Certificate II in Construction.

"That'll give her the heads up on some occupational health and safety, regulations, tools and equipment. When she's through with that, she'll be ready to go on a work site and hopefully start as an apprentice.

"For an area like this, where there's not much opportunity especially in the training side of it, the opportunity to get involved with building these THRIVE containers is great."