‘I don’t want to leave’: East Providence mayor, disabled woman in dispute over city-owned home
by: Kate Wilkinson
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Julia Dempsey experienced a moment out of a reality TV show six years ago when she was handed the keys to a city-owned rental in East Providence.
The single-family home, located on Payette Street, was remodeled by the city with the assistance of a U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant.
East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva launched a housing lottery for the property back in 2019. Though veterans were prioritized in the lottery, he encouraged others to apply as well.
“There’s definitely a need for affordable housing, not just for veterans, but for non-veterans also,” DaSilva told 12 News at the time.
The lucky winner would either pay $600 a month or 30% of their monthly income.
Dempsey, who’s not a veteran, decided to fill out an application. She never expected to win, but was contacted by the city after the veteran who was initially selected turned down the offer.
“It was amazing,” Dempsey said. “I thought, ‘What are the chances?’”
Her first few years living in the home were fine, until a student parking lot for East Providence High School was built right next to her home.
Dempsey told 12 News high schoolers drive through her backyard daily, often damaging her property and leaving behind tire marks on her lawn.
Though she claims she contacted the school in an effort to get them to stop, the students would eventually go right back to using her backyard as a shortcut.
Dempsey also tried requesting a fence for her dog, and ramped up her efforts once the students started driving through her backyard.
“I had to get three bids, and I put together the bid packages,” she explained.
Despite submitting the proper paperwork, the city never approved Dempsey’s request, and the fence was never built.
Dempsey’s five-year lease was supposed to expire in 2026. But in 2024, the city notified her that it had no final copy of her lease with the mayor’s signature on it.
DaSilva claims the lease Dempsey signed was never valid.
“It was done without my understanding of the lease,” he said. “I never had an opportunity to sign it.”
Dempsey pointed out that she has been paying $900 a month to live there, which is the amount that was determined in her lease. She feels as though she’s being retaliated against for criticizing DaSilva on social media.
DaSilva said that’s not the case.
“If she made comments negative towards me, I don’t recall them,” DaSilva said. “It had no bearing on the situation that we’re dealing with right now.”
Dempsey opted to sign a one-year lease in 2024 because she didn’t want to lose her home.
Then in March, she received a letter from that city that stated her lease would not be renewed, and that she needed to move out by the end of May.
DaSilva told 12 News he wants a veteran to move into the home, since that was the original intent of the housing lottery. He said he’s also seeing an increased need across the city for affordable housing.
Dempsey believes she should be allowed to stay in the home through 2026, which is when her original lease is up.
“I just can’t be out of here in 60 days on disability,” she said.
Dempsey is allowed to live in the house on a month-to-month basis, as mandated by state law, according to the city. The city is also willing to assist her with finding a new home.
Dempsey worries that if she stays any longer, the city will evict her. She’s currently looking for a new place to live, but claims she can’t find an apartment under $1,300 a month.
“My end goal is for this to be the last place I live,” she said. “I don’t want to leave.”