Actually a good plan.

Low cost housing is generally a good investment.

• Pick robust houses,
• fit out with cheap robust furnishings,
• rent rooms via airbnb as a screener,
• if tenant passes screening after a few weeks, offer short term rental.
• Have a good relationship with friends who know how to evict bad tenants.
• Win.

Requires close monitoring to make it work, even a friendly tenant to assist with screening.

There’s plenty of people needing cheap accomodation who don’t mind sharehousing.