#United States #Salt Lake City #housing affordability #Ivory Innovations #Hack-A-House

Innovative Solutions for Housing Affordability: Insights from Hack-A-House 2025 Winners

The American housing crisis continues to escalate, with millions of citizens facing the challenges of affordability and accessibility in the housing market. To combat this pressing issue, Ivory Innovations hosted its annual Hack-A-House competition in 2025, inviting students nationwide to propose creative solutions. This remarkable initiative gathered bright minds from various top universities, with three teams ultimately winning recognition for their groundbreaking proposals.

An Overview of the Competition

The Hack-A-House competition, facilitated by Ivory Innovations—an operating foundation and academic center at the University of Utah—encouraged participants to tackle the multi-faceted challenges that hinder affordable housing accessibility. The event drew nearly 400 registrants from over 50 institutions, highlighting the urgency of addressing the housing crisis in America. Winning teams hailed from prestigious schools including Harvard University, the University of Utah, and Willamette University.

Ian Cahoon, the Director of Innovations at Ivory Innovations, emphasized the creative and practical approaches contestants adopted to propose solutions. Winning projects focused on improving lending processes for first-time buyers, enhancing access to affordable housing, and developing innovative construction methods designed to minimize costs.

Recognizing the Winners

The Hack-A-House contest awarded winners in three specific categories: Construction & Design, Policy & Regulatory Reform, and Finance. Each entry demonstrated a unique approach in addressing the challenges of housing affordability:

1. One Block Away - Winner of Construction & Design

This team from Harvard University introduced a revolutionary housing product type aimed at bridging the gap between traditional renting and homeownership. Their concept, NeighborCore, incorporates both offsite and onsite construction techniques. Team member Justin Joel Tan explained, "We explored a new housing typology designed to foster densification while maintaining the character of existing neighborhoods."

2. HUD, Sweat & Tears - Winner of Policy & Regulatory Reform

Hailing from the University of Utah, this team proposed a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) model focused on protecting current homeowners from property value decline while encouraging the development of workforce housing. Team member Elsa Steward shared, "We aimed to provide reassurances to existing homeowners and promote the construction of more affordable housing options."

3. Project Picket - Winner of Finance

The Willamette University team tackled loan accessibility by connecting bank partnerships with FHA 203k loans. Their solution identifies underutilized land in high-opportunity neighborhoods, offering unique opportunities for first-time homebuyers. Team member Diego Diaz emphasized that their solution does not rely on government subsidies, making it both innovative and viable.

A Collective Thanks

Cahoon extended gratitude to all participants, including notable runner-up teams from the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, UCLA, and others. The diverse range of ideas presented showcased immense potential to create positive change in the affordable housing landscape.

Looking Ahead

The winners and runners-up from this year's Hack-A-House competition will be participating in the 2025 Ivory Prize Summit on October 29, where they will compete for the grand prize. With the audience engaged in real-time voting during the presentations, this format encourages collaboration and can serve as a launchpad for evolving perspectives towards sustainable housing solutions.

This year’s Hack-A-House exemplifies the innovative spirit of youth dedicated to addressing societal challenges. The enthusiasm and vision exhibited by the contestants are promising signs for the future of housing in America. For further details about the competition and upcoming events, visit hackahouse.org.