Safehold Named 2026 Ivory Prize Finalist for Affordable Housing Innovation
Safehold has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability in recognition of its ground-lease capital model’s role in mitigating elevated interest rates and construction costs. The company established an Affordable Housing team in 2025 to expand its ground-lease investments into projects addressing unmet demand.
1. Ivory Prize Finalist Announcement
Safehold has been selected as one of the finalists for the 2026 Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability, highlighting its innovative ground-lease capital approach. The nomination recognizes solutions that address affordability challenges across finance, construction and policy.
2. Affordable Housing Team Expansion
In 2025, Safehold launched a dedicated Affordable Housing team to scale investments in low- and moderate-income housing projects. This unit focuses on structuring ground leases that bridge funding shortfalls and reduce upfront costs for developers.
3. Ground-Lease Financing Benefits
Safehold’s ground-lease model separates land ownership from building ownership to free up equity and improve project viability. By deploying capital under long-term leases, the company helps developers manage high interest rates and construction expenses more efficiently.