| October 30, 2018

The Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability

Written by Ivory Prize

Reading time: 3 minutes

America is facing a new type of housing crisis, one of affordability. In the wake of the Great Recession, a housing shortage, coupled with house prices increasing at a pace faster than wages, has developed into a major issue of housing affordability. To solve this crisis, we need new ideas.

The Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability is seeking to recognize the most ambitious, adoptable and innovative solutions to address housing affordability. To assist, $200,000 and robust promotion will be available for exemplary ideas.

HOW IT WORKS: Ivory Innovations, a new initiative of the Sorenson Impact Center at the University of Utah, is working with an advisory board and partners that represent many of our nations top leaders in housing to find nominees for this award. The emphasis will be on projects that provide a pathway to homeownership including both single and multifamily housing. The award will provide $200,000, with at least three awards in the areas of focus outlined below. It is anticipated that the awards will be between $50,000 – $100,000.

AREAS OF FOCUS:

  • Construction and Design: Innovative construction and design can play a critical role in bringing down the cost of housing and in improving building performance – both for new construction and for rehabilitation.
  • Regulatory Reform and Public Policy: Examples of regulatory and public policy reform include innovative approaches to work with public entities related to zoning, land-use planning, building codes, the approval process for permitting, and meeting environmental requirements.
  • Finance: Some of the greatest barriers to affordability are financial, such as qualifying for a mortgage or meeting down payment and monthly payment requirements. The award will recognize innovative and successful housing finance approaches.

PRIZE TIMELINE: The Prize was announced September 18, 2018; Preliminary Nominations are encouraged by November 15, 2018; and the deadline for Completed Nominations and Applications is December 15, 2018.

SUBMIT A NOMINATION OR APPLICATION: Private sector organizations, non-profit organizations and public private partnerships, either organizations or individuals are eligible to apply. The Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability is an open nomination / application process. For further information on Nominations and Applications, please go to ivory-innovations.org