TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A single Tallahassee mother of two was moved to tears Wednesday when she learned she’ll no longer have to live in a hotel after her previous apartment flooded.
Amanda Arnold was shocked to learn she was next on the waitlist to move into Maryland Oaks Crossing, a transitional housing community run by Good News Outreach.
The Tallahassee woman was gifted the keys to her new home during her lunch break Wednesday. She’d have to finish her shift before rushing to her new home for herself and her two children.
“To finally be able to be stable and be comfortable, that’s all I was asking for,” Arnold said.
She said her former apartment had flooded several times and the rental insurance she had failed to cover most of her ruined belongings.
As a result, life had become a major challenge for her, and she said any hope of moving into a new home at Maryland Oaks Crossing seemed weeks or months away.
More Tallahassee News
But Good News Outreach Executive Director Talethia Edwards called her to say she was next on the list.
And the good news didn’t stop there.
Killearn Methodist Church helped renovate and furnish her unit, so it is move-in ready.
Reclaim the Land, Inc. also joined Hope Florida in donating funds to take care of a down payment and provide rental assistance for Arnold.
“I haven’t asked for donations. I haven’t asked for anything,” she said. “Just the simple fact that I can finally breathe is overwhelming by itself.”
Arnold said she had no idea how she was going to celebrate Thanksgiving with her kids initially, but now, with keys in hand, she had one thing on her mind.
“But now that we have somewhere, I think I’m going to cook,” she said.
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.
Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.