Congratulations to the 2026-27 “What Home Means to Me” Poster Contest Winners
October 22, 2026 — At the National Conference & Exhibition in Denver, CO, NAHRO announced the twelve winners of the 2026-27 “What Home Means to Me” Poster Contest. Judged by a panel of housing, design and youth support professionals, 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.
Every year, hundreds of children, ages 5-18, participate in the contest by designing a poster and writing a short essay about what home means to them. Their heartfelt messages about their homes underscore the importance of the work that housers and community development professionals do.
The 2026-27 grand prize winner is Rylan, age 9 from the Housing Authority of Madisonville in Kentucky (Southeastern Region). Rylan writes:
Home means to me being around family and becoming friends with my neighbors. When I first moved to my apartment, I was very nervous and excited. I remember seeing a lot of kids outside playing and me and my little sister couldn’t wait to join them. I have gained so many new friends and learned so much. Our neighborhood community has a very strong bond. We all work together and help when needed. When my family first moved in, everyone was so welcoming and it felt so good. I love my home and thankful for my family and new friends.
As the grand prize winner, Rylan’s poster will be featured on the cover of the 2027 “What Home Means to Me” calendar. Each of the 12 winners will be featured, one per month, inside the calendar.
The additional eleven national poster contest winners are:
Cataleya, age 10
Port Huron Housing Commission, MI
North Central Region
Easton, age 10
County of Hawai’i Office of Housing & Community Development, HI
Pacific Southwest Region
Gabriel, age 17
Housing Administration of Puerto Rico
Middle Atlantic Region
Jayzmin, age 17
Provo City Housing Authority, UT
Mountain Plains Region
Joanelys, age 16
Waterbury Housing Authority, CT
New England Region
Khloe, age 15
Winder Housing Authority, GA
Southeastern Region
Layla, age 17
Boise City / Ada County Housing Authority, ID
Pacific Northwest Region
Marlene, age 18
Mesilla Valley Public Housing Authority, NM
Pacific Southwest Region
Oriah, age 6
Aurora Housing Authority, CO
Mountain Plains Region
Paisley, age 7
Boise City / Ada County Housing Authority, ID
Pacific Northwest Region
Shamara, age 16
Raise Up (Lorain Metro Housing Authority), OH
North Central Region
NAHRO extends its heartfelt gratitude to our champion calendar sponsor — HD Supply — and to our panel of judges: Amy Stewart, HD Supply; Margot Kleinman, Pratt University and Vagus Workshop; and Joshua Gavel, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.