Turning a Place to Live into a Place to Lead: MaDonna’s Story

Hopeful and overwhelmed with joy are the emotions MaDonna Mannings-Tucker felt when she and her young children finally moved into a safe, stable home of their own in 2018. But their journey to establish a stable home was far from easy; it was one of strength and perseverance.

For years, MaDonna and her children dealt with constant upheaval and instability while leaving an unsafe living situation. With nowhere to go, the family spent extended periods living in their car and moving between shelters and hotels.

“It was challenging having small children and not having a roof over your head,” MaDonna recalled. “I was in survival mode.”

Through it all, she remained determined.

That determination paid off when Community Housing Network (CHN) was able to move MaDonna and her family into the newly opened Jefferson Oaks affordable housing development in Oak Park – marking a turning point toward long-term stability.

“I was happy to get those keys,” she remembers. “Me and my children had a place of our own.”

Formerly the site of the vacant Thomas Jefferson School building, Jefferson Oaks was transformed into a vibrant housing community, offering a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes and a community space for individuals and families to connect and engage with one another.

Having a stable home allowed MaDonna and her children to rebuild their lives and focus on going to school, working, and volunteering.

For nearly a decade, MaDonna has not only maintained stable housing but has become a pillar of the Jefferson Oaks community. She has built incredible relationships with residents and created safe spaces for women with children, leading monthly roundtables and group activities centered around women’s empowerment, healing and self-expression.

“Women needed a space to speak freely without being judged,” said MaDonna. “After I was able to heal, I was able to help others. It allowed me to step into who I was supposed to be. I found it rewarding because the women were happy and feeling more confident.”

MaDonna’s passion for helping others has not gone unnoticed at Jefferson Oaks, with residents often thanking her for her positive contributions and turning to her for encouragement and support.

In 2024, MaDonna was nominated by Community Housing Network staff for the Emmett Jones Award. This is an award that recognizes the hard work, perseverance and accomplishments of CHN program participants. Her story shows us what someone can accomplish when they don’t have to worry about where their family will sleep at night.

But long before she had stability of her own, MaDonna was already giving her time and care to others.

“All my life I’ve been volunteering,” she said. “I stayed at a shelter and said one day I’ll work here. I wanted to be around to help those that had been through what I had been through.”

MaDonna’s dedication, selflessness and passion is what led her to a new role: joining Community Housing Network’s Board of Directors. As a board member, she now uses her lived experience to help guide the organization’s mission and vision, ensuring that other families have the same opportunity she had to rebuild and thrive.

“It’s an honor and privilege to be a part of a board willing to build communities and help place people in homes,” she said. “Because of Community Housing Network I was able to have a home and get my voice back.”  

Looking back on her journey to this moment, MaDonna said she’s most proud of her ability to survive and how her children have thrived despite all they’ve gone through as a family. She’s looking forward to leading her own nonprofit, writing a book, volunteering and uplifting more communities.

“My hope for the future is to continue being a listening ear and a voice for people who need help,” she said.

For 25 years, Community Housing Network has helped people like MaDonna and her family find stability, safety, and a place to call home.