When it comes to affordable housing, people tend to have a lot to say. It’s the kind of open and honest dialogue we need to tackle a growing affordability crisis. But we often forget to bring another very important voice into the conversation: our kids.  
 
NAHRO’s annual “What Home Means to Me” poster contest invites children who live in affordable communities around the country to share their thoughts about home and the role of affordable housing agencies.  
 
It’s an important part of the NAHRO Housing America campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the need for safe, high quality, affordable housing through education, advocacy, and empowerment. 
 
Kids, of course, do not have all the answers. They don't have the wisdom that only comes with age. But there are other reasons to listen to the smallest voices in the room, too.
   
Year over year, the entries in the poster contest point to a few things: Kids see things differently than adults. They break down problems and solutions into simple parts. They often highlight things that adults take for granted. Their words and images are often bright and full of optimism. 

MWHS encourages kids at our properties to participate in this tradition and to get a chance at national recognition and prizes, as well as inclusion in NAHRO's annual calendar featuring poster entries.  
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This year, MWHS received a dozen entries from children who live at our properties. An MWHS panel of judges selected the entries shown below to represent the agency in the statewide competition -- showing great effort, detail and thoughtfulness in their approach to the project. 

By Megan Schmidt

For the experienced patient, a visual acuity test—or what’s thought of as a basic eye exam—is a pretty straight forward procedure. You stand where the doctor or nurse asks you to. Then, you’re told to begin reading random letters of varying sizes on a chart, one eye at a time.

But if you’ve never had an eye exam before—the chart can look like a confusing mess of alphabet soup. You maybe wouldn’t know which side of the chart to begin from, or whether or not you’re supposed to read the letters individually or to try and form words. These mix-ups are not uncommon at mobile health and wellness clinic  events, which aim to reach the state’s most under-resourced and under-served residents.

According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 12 percent of Colorado adults reported not seeing a doctor in the past year because of cost in 2016, the latest data available. 

Healthcare can feel out of reach for people who are cost-burdened, work odd hours, or don't have insurance. A lack of child care, transportation or an established relationship with a doctor are other barriers that can get in the way. 

The solution? Bring healthcare to the people.