LEWISTON — Ann and Paul Rivers moved to Lewiston for “a fresh start,” but have been living in a tiny attic apartment with no kitchen or bathroom.

The couple, who are in their 60s, have looked into some 20 apartment listings since the spring with no luck. For one apartment, the Rivers’ were one of 30 respondents to the landlord, but the unit was gone within an hour. And they’ve suddenly noticed steep prices.

“Nothing’s ever easy,” Paul Rivers said this week. “The prices I’m seeing are ridiculous.”