HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The president and CEO of the Houston Housing Authority has been placed on paid leave amid an ongoing investigation.

It’s not even the first time this month that David A. Northern Sr.’s position has been in jeopardy.

A board meeting was held on October 9 about Northern’s job, but no action was taken at that time.

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That was until Tuesday, when the board voted to place him on administrative leave to conduct an investigation into his performance.

Federal investigators raided one of the Houston Housing Authority properties last week.

The raid took place at The Pointe at Bayou Bend — a vacant, 400-unit affordable housing development in the Second Ward.

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There are questions about why it was built next to land that contains toxins, according to the documents.

Northern has been with the Houston Housing Authority since 2022.

At the time, Mayor John Whitmire accused the Houston Housing Authority of ineffective management and mismanagement of money.

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Northern, on the other hand, said in that statement that the board’s move and the inquiry into its performance were “warrantless”.

The council hired an outside consultant to review Northern’s performance. An interim president has not yet been named.

Read Northern’s full statement:

“I am confident that this warrantless investigation to try to remove me from my position will come to nothing. The board took this step to try to invent a reason to remove me because they don’t have one. This decision comes from coordinated opposition from anti-affordable housing and special interest groups who see affordable housing as a threat to their pocketbooks.

Regardless, I remain committed to the vital mission of providing affordable housing to Houston families despite the attacks my team and I have faced. Since 2024 alone, we have secured more than $60 million in federal funding that will lead to an anticipated investment of $750 million in some of Houston’s historically underserved communities. And we’ve launched innovative programs that make a real difference in people’s lives, including programs that help families access thriving neighborhoods, support seniors as they age, and expand services for our most vulnerable residents. In addition, my administration has systematically addressed HUD’s deficiencies identified before I took office as President & CEO and caught the agency behind with the remaining 3 years of audit. And a few weeks ago, we proposed an independent audit – approved unanimously by the Board – to ensure full transparency of our contracts and procurement process.

I am deeply concerned about the harmonization of our housing authority and the negative impact it has had on HHA staff morale and our ability to serve our constituents. However, I will continue to fight to protect both our mission and the truth. At the heart of this problem, Houston’s most vulnerable residents stand to lose the most.”

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