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Will The Fed Rate Cut Help Housing Affordability?
On Wednesday, September 17th, the Federal Reserve voted to cut rates for the first time in 2025, and signaled that more cuts are on the way. This move was in response to growing concerns over the slowing labor market, and the hope is that by making borrowing cheaper, economic growth will follow and help turn the tide on employment.
Oct 235 min read
Ivory Innovations 2025 Hack-A-House Winners offer Creative Solutions to Address Housing Affordability Challenges affecting Millions of Americans
by Ian Cahoon, Director of Innovations, Ivory Innovations Students from Harvard, University of Utah and Willamette University propose solutions to improve lending to first time buyers, increase access to affordable housing and develop cost-reducing construction methods to increase homeownership SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 1, 2025 - Ivory Innovations , both an operating foundation and a nonprofit academic center based at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business, toda
Sep 304 min read
Using Information Systems To Improve Housing Choice Vouchers: Kristine Castillo’s Experience with Matrix Rental Solutions (Ivory Prize 2025 Top 25)
Author: Kristine Castillo, Former Student Associate, Ivory Innovations Kristine Castillo Introduction My name is Kristine Castillo, and I graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Information Systems in May 2025. This past summer, I had the privilege of interning with Matrix Rental Solutions (Ivory Prize 2025 Top 25), a fintech company dedicated to improving housing access by making rental applications more equitable and efficient. Under
Sep 182 min read
From Intern To Full-Time Employee:Chris Eggert’s Experience with Ivory Prize 2025 Winner, Reframe Systems
Author: Chris Eggert, Former Student Associate, Ivory Innovations Chris Eggert My Summer at Reframe Systems My name is Chris Eggert, and I recently graduated from the University of Utah (May 25’) with a bachelor's in Entrepreneurship & Strategy and minors in Information Systems and Multidisciplinary Design. This past summer, I had the great opportunity to intern with Reframe Systems (Ivory Prize 2025 Winner) on their Strategy & Impact team. Reframe is a vertically integrated
Sep 183 min read
Saving Homeownership for Gen Z
The decade-plus undersupply of housing along with COVID-era inflation in housing prices and higher interest rates mean that the same construction methods, materials, and policy and regulatory frameworks that worked for earlier generations will not work for Gen Z. Instead, the majority of Gen Z are likely to struggle to afford rent, let alone reach the American Dream of homeownership, unless we think differently.
Sep 184 min read
Interacting with students and their passion for housing.
Innovation, Affordability, and the Environment. These are the issues students consistently raise when discussing housing. Now, more than ever, students recognize that they will (if they haven’t already) be directly affected by housing costs and affordability challenges. Fortunately, they are well-positioned to confront this crisis. Students can remain optimistic, explore new solutions, and engage with these challenges without being discouraged by the obstacles to implementing
Sep 113 min read
Ivory Innovations Invites Innovators across the Country to Showcase Solutions Addressing Housing Affordability through its Annual Ivory Prize
Fieldworks accelerates the adoption of promising housing innovations by integrating them into Ivory Innovations’ own developments, creating real-world applications that demonstrate their value and impact.
Sep 23 min read
Who Gets to Build? Solutions to Unlock the Construction Workforce
Part 2: Solutions Solving the labor bottleneck in housing will require reimagining how we train, certify, and mobilize the construction workforce. Fortunately, innovative solutions are emerging across the country, from policy reforms to industry-led initiatives, that aim to make it easier to enter the trades without compromising quality or safety. One promising strategy is expanding youth apprenticeship programs. These initiatives blend classroom instruction with paid, on t
Jul 142 min read
New Ivory Innovations Fieldworks Program Offers Housing Innovators the Opportunity to Implement Solutions in Actual Development Sites
Fieldworks accelerates the adoption of promising housing innovations by integrating them into Ivory Innovations’ own developments, creating real-world applications that demonstrate their value and impact.
Jul 83 min read
Who Gets to Build? The Growing Debate Over Licensing and Trade Restrictions
As the United States determines how to deal with its housing shortage, conversations about how to increase supply often focus on materials, permitting, and zoning. But a deeper issue lies in who is allowed to do the building in the first place.
Jul 72 min read
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