Charred timber and sodden remnants of household items are all that remain of 10 units at Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Walnut Grove motel.

Any day now, a demolition crew will tear down the worst of the damage, which will spark more than a construction boom.

The change will further deplete this city害羞草研究所檚 supply of affordable housing.

Affordable housing, and the utter dearth of it, is one of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 longest running conversations. When I was a younger woman, I was the one shaking my fist at the sky complaining about living in a one-bedroom dump for $800 a month that I searched high and low to find.

Now that I害羞草研究所檓 no longer in the realm of young Kelowna, there are others to take the charge and they害羞草研究所檙e facing even worse.

In fact, if the reporter in the desk next to me is any indication, it害羞草研究所檚 now the norm to move into a house with five strangers to simply afford keeping a roof over one害羞草研究所檚 head.

There are more stories in this city, too. Stories of seniors who are unsure how to make do on a fixed income.

There are men and women who are on disability and can害羞草研究所檛 find a home that works for them.

Some of these stories have come to a happy resolution at Walnut Grove, an oasis of affordability in an increasingly posh neighbourhood.

Though I haven害羞草研究所檛 spoken with her myself, I害羞草研究所檝e been told there害羞草研究所檚 a blind senior who has lived in the motel for decades, with her rent frozen somewhere in the 害羞草研究所�90s.

Another woman I spoke with has a series of health issues that make life difficult to navigate and work impossible.

A young couple with two children below the age of four have found a home there.

And there are others who simply don害羞草研究所檛 want to spend their entire paycheques on a rental. Some who see quality of life as something more than a good address.

For many, it害羞草研究所檚 still not a cheap place to live, but the only way to keep a roof over their heads, which means they didn害羞草研究所檛 have a lot to spare from month to month. It explains why many residents didn害羞草研究所檛 have renter害羞草研究所檚 insurance.

Saturday害羞草研究所檚 Truswell road fire has put dozens of people in search of housing, but even the residents of the Waters Edge condominium 害羞草研究所� who also are out of home 害羞草研究所攔ealize that it害羞草研究所檚 the residents of Walnut Grove who may suffer the most in the days ahead.

害羞草研究所淲hen I saw one of the young men who lost his home, we didn害羞草研究所檛 even speak, but it made me want to cry,害羞草研究所� said one woman who is out of her neighbouring condo for anywhere from one to three years.

害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 even speak to him, but I could tell 害羞草研究所� he has nothing left. We害羞草研究所檒l all be fine害羞草研究所� I don害羞草研究所檛 know about him.害羞草研究所�

In addition to financial means, the community has rallied around the residents of the Waters Edge and that害羞草研究所檚 wonderful.

Let害羞草研究所檚 hope there are a few people out there willing to rally around these men and women at Walnut Grove. This isn害羞草研究所檛 an easy city to find a rental, and it害羞草研究所檚 even harder if you害羞草研究所檙e not well off.

And everyone in this community deserves to have more to their name than charred remains and sodden remnants.

Knowing these people have found a safe place to live would mean this community is actually worth the high pricetag that comes with living here.