"WHAT HOME MEANS TO ME" POSTER CONTEST
The 2026-27 Poster Contest is open for submissions.
Submission deadline is May 1, 2026
About Housing America Campaign
In 2007, NAHRO created the Housing America campaign to raise national awareness about the critical role that affordable housing programs play in building and sustaining healthy communities nationwide.
“What Home Means to Me” Poster Contest
NAHRO holds an annual national poster contest for youth who live in affordable housing owned or administered by NAHRO member agencies. Each piece of art shares the children’s thoughts on the theme of “What Home Means to Me.” Hundreds of beautiful posters from children across the nation are entered in local, state and regional competitions. A panel of judges selects 12 winners and one grand prize winner, who is awarded a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet his or her elected representatives. The winning posters are collected in the Housing America calendar, a year-long reminder of importance of safe, decent and affordable housing to children and families nationwide.
2026-27 Poster Contest Application
Contest Location:
Judging will take place at the:
PSWRC Annual Conference
Hilton Santa Barbara
633 E Cabrillo Blvd
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
If you are not attending the conference entries can be mailed to:
PSWRC NAHRO Service Office
12246 FM 1769
Graham, TX 76450.
*ONLY 8.5 x 11 paper sized entries will be accepted by mail*
Entries must be mailed by May 1, 2026
Poster Specifications:
-
Theme - "What Home Means to Me"
-
Posters must have a LANDSCAPE (horizontal) orientation.
-
Size – Posters must be at least 8.5 x 11 paper size (letter size). Larger posters will be accepted, up to 22 inches by 28 inches.
-
Media - Contestant may use any art media (marker, crayon, paint, collage, textiles, etc.), but please consider that posters will need to be packaged, mailed and reproduced.
-
All entries must be mailed flat.
-
All contestants must sign a release making their entry the property of NAHRO and permitting duplication/publication thereof. The release should be secured to the back of the entry.
-
All regional finalists and national winners must sign a photo release waiver giving NAHRO permission to use their picture for online and print publication.
-
All contestants are asked to provide a short narrative on the inspiration, vision, and importance of their poster design. The narrative should be secured on the back of the entry.
-
Contestant’s name, grade level, and housing authority must be written on the back of each poster entry in addition to being listed on the release form also attached to the entry.
-
NAHRO is only responsible for returning the original poster to the national grand prize winner. NAHRO is not responsible for returning posters except for the grand prize-winning poster.
-
National winners will be selected based on how well the artwork uses the “What Home Means to Me” theme.
Eligibility and Selection Categories:
Contest participation is open to all children in grades K-12 residing in affordable housing assisted directly, supported under community development, or participants in affordable housing programs administered by a NAHRO member authority (i.e., public or Section 8-assisted housing CDBG, HOME, LIHTC). Entries must be created by only one person. Entries created by two or more people will not be accepted.
Age Categories:
Elementary: K to 5th grade;
Middle: 6th to 8th grade;
High: 9th to 12th grade
Contest Overview:
Local/state NAHRO chapters may submit entries to their regional council. The regional councils hold separate contests and send their top three winners (one from each age category) to National NAHRO. National NAHRO holds a contest to pick the 13 national winners. National NAHRO will not accept submissions from individual housing authorities. Any submissions sent directly to national NAHRO will be disqualified.
National NAHRO will not accept submissions from individual housing authorities. Any submissions sent directly to national NAHRO will be disqualified.
For more info regarding the Housing America campaign, please click here.