Houston Housing Authority President Resigns Amid Investigation
David Northern has resigned from his role as president and CEO of the Houston Housing Authority amid an investigation into his duties.
Northern agreed to resign Monday in exchange for six months’ salary and health insurance, the Houston Chronicle reported. He had been in the position since February 2022, when the city was grappling with mass evictions and homelessness.
The authority placed Northern on paid leave late last month amid an investigation into the agency and its top executive's practices for granting contracts, Houston Public Media reported. Northern said at the time that he was confident the “warrantless investigation” would “turn up nothing,” according to the report.
An outside attorney was retained to investigate the contracts, and an outside consultant was evaluating Northern's performance. The investigation was also examining whether Northern complied with his contractual and fiduciary duties. Whether that investigation remains active after Northern's resignation is unknown, the Chronicle reported.
Northern’s leave started shortly after federal agents executed a search warrant to test soil samples for contamination at one of HHA's East End properties, Houston Public Media reported. The property, The Pointe at Bayou Bend, is near an incinerator containing lead and other toxins, according to the report.
Northern didn't respond to a request for comment from the Chronicle.
Mayor John Whitmire last month criticized HHA's leadership, saying the East End project “should have never been built.” Whitmire said HHA staff tried to withhold information from the authority’s board.
Board members appointed Jennine Hovell-Cox, the authority’s general counsel, as interim president and CEO, the Chronicle reported. Whitmire told the outlet that he was pleased with the board’s actions.
“I applaud the board’s commitment to transparency and holding leadership accountable,” Whitmire said.
Whitmire replaced five of the seven members of the Houston Housing Authority board in February.
The Houston Housing Authority faced criticism last year for its use of Public Facility Corporations, which allowed properties used for affordable housing to get tax breaks.
A Chronicle analysis found that only 1% of tens of thousands of tax-exempt units created over a seven-year period actually target low-income or very low-income residents. The analysis also found that the authority failed to collect millions of dollars in project fees.
