Somewhat related to point #2, this article (http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304549504579319373775553890 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/

Somewhat related to point #2, this article (http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304549504579319373775553890 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405270230454950...) was shared here a while back that discusses a way in which vacant property is being used to house people at a discount, but it deals more with office buildings. Perhaps they could implement something similar for absentee property.