NAHRO Celebrates Twelve Youth 2024-25 “What Home Means to Me” Poster Contest Winners
At the 2024 National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, the Housing America Advisory Committee announced twelve youth winners of the 2024-2025 “What Home Means to Me” Poster Contest.
Judged by a panel of housing leaders — Ashley Northcutt of Women’s Affordable Housing Network, Emily Cadik of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition, and Lisa Lee of the National Public Housing Museum — the national poster contest is the culmination of numerous poster contests held by public housing agencies, states and regions across the United States. Each of the eight NAHRO regions submits three posters (one from each age group) to the national contest.
The 2024-25 grand prize winner is Adriana age 11, from Tennessee Valley Housing Services in Morristown, TN (Southeastern Region). Her poster, pictured below, will be featured on the cover of the 2025 “What Home Means to Me” calendar.
Please join us in congratulating Adriana as well as the additional eleven national contest winners!
- Akayla, age 14 Bayonne Housing Authority (NJ)
- Angel, age 16 | Maiker Housing (CO)
- Aleiny, age 14 | Butler Metropolitan Housing Authority (OH)
- Lola, age 9 | Port Huron Housing Commission (MI)
- Sanita, age 11 | Watertown Housing Authority (MA)
- Serenity, age 12 | New Britain Housing Authority (CT)
- Stella, age 18 | Boise City / Ada County Housing Authorities (ID)
- Halo, age 14 | Tucson Housing & Community Development (AZ)
- Katelyn, age 10 | Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (CA)
- Yathziri, age 11 | Cameron County Housing Authority (TX)
- Melody, age 7 | Cameron County Housing Authority (TX)
About the “What Home Means to Me” Poster Contest
Since 2008, the “What Home Means to Me” Poster Contest has recognized the amazing, poignant art of children who live in affordable housing across the country. Their heartfelt messages about their homes underscore the importance of the work that housers and community development professionals do.
The poster contest accepts submissions from children age 5-18 (Kindergarten through 12th grade), who reside in a household, or are provided a housing-related service, managed by a NAHRO member agency. Posters are judged at the state and regional level in three age groups: K-5th grade, 6-8th grade, and 9-12th grade. 24 regional winners — one from each age group from each of eight NAHRO regions — compete nationally. 11 national winners receive a $100 gift card and a copy of the calendar featuring their poster. The grand prize winner, whose art is featured on the calendar cover as well as October (Housing America Month), also receives a copy of the calendar, as well as a framed copy of their poster, an iPad and a trip to NAHRO’s Washington Conference, to be honored in front of the NAHRO membership and to meet their Congressional representatives.
The resulting calendar, which features the winning posters, is printed and distributed to NAHRO member agencies as a member benefit. NAHRO also sends calendars to select HUD officials and all members of Congress, as a tangible reminder of the impact safe, stable housing has on our nation’s youth. Calendars are available for sale to the public, with proceeds benefiting the poster contest and other NAHRO youth initiatives.
About NAHRO
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), established in 1933, is a membership organization of more than 26,000 housing and community development providers and professionals throughout the United States. NAHRO members create and manage affordable housing for low- and middle-income families and support vibrant communities that enhance the quality of life for all. NAHRO members administer more than 3 million homes for more than 8 million people.