Jessie Kessler plays with her daughter Lyla, 2, in the room she shares with her sister Cadence at their new two-bedroom apartment on A Street in South Portland’s Knightville neighborhood.

Cadence Kessler, 5, sets the table for dinner while her parents cook. The Kessler family was forced out of their apartment on Cottage Street in early August and wanted to stay in the community, but struggled to find a new place because of the tight supply and high rents.

Chris Kessler cuts up chicken for his daughter Lyla at their new two-bedroom apartment on A Street in South Portland’s Knightville neighborhood. A local business owner steered them to the A Street apartment. “We were so lucky,” Jessie Kessler said.

Cadence watches birds from her family’s front window.

Cadence and her sister Lyla, 2, play dress-up with their mother Jessie.

Cadence asks her mother to smell her stuffed toy dog in her room at their new two-bedroom apartment.

The Kessler family prepares supper at their new two-bedroom apartment on A Street in South Portland’s Knightville neighborhood. The Kessler family was forced out of their apartment on Cottage Street in early August.