Calling All Young Artists! 

Do you live in affordable housing or receive housing assistance through a NAHRO member agency? Are you in grades K-12 and love to draw, paint, or create? Then this is your moment to shine! Enter the "What Home Means to Me" poster contest and share your vision of home through art. Winners in each age category will receive a cash prize—up to $200!—and the chance to compete at the regional and national levels. Your artwork could inspire the country and help tell the powerful story of what “home” truly means to you. So grab your crayons, markers, or paint—and let your creativity do the talking!

The contest is open to all children (grades K-12) residing in affordable housing assisted directly or supported under community development and affordable housing programs administered by a NAHRO member authority (e.g. public or Section 8/HCV-assisted housing, RAD, CDBG, HOME, LIHTC).

 Download the Application here.

 Download the Flyer here.

The following prizes will be awarded for each category:

1st Place: $200 check

2nd Place: $100 check

3rd Place: $50 check

Plus, your winning entry will move forward to to a regional competition. National winners will be selected based on how well the artwork uses the "What Home Means to Me" theme. 

Specifications:

Theme: "What Home Means to Me"

Poster size: 22" x 28" (horizontal/landscape only)

• Contestant may use any art media (marker, crayon, paint, collage, textiles, etc.). Posters will need to mailed flat. Please do not use materials that may smear, crack or chip.
• Only original artwork will be accepted.
• Depictions of cartoon, video game movie/TV characters, celebrities, movie themes, computer clip art, magazine pictures, other print media, brand/product images, or other trademarked and copyrighted materials will not be accepted.
• Submission must be created by only one person. Entries created by two or more people will not be accepted.
• All entries must be mailed flat.

Your entry must include:

CATEGORIES:

Submit to:

VAHCDO
ATTN: Lisa Porter, Beyond Housing
120 Hope Lane, Bristol, VA 24201

For more information contact: lisa@beyondhsg.com

All posters, essays and applications must be postmarked, hand delivered or received by 4 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 2025

Presented By the Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials (VAHCDO) in partnership with the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)