The Houston Housing Authority is facing scrutiny over financial issues and the treatment of low-income renters. An investigation revealed that ousted president and CEO David Northern received a severance of over $210,252.18, raising concerns about oversight. Due process problems led to tenants losing their housing vouchers, as reported by Click 2 Houston.
Northern, who worked for just over two years, received a settlement with six months' salary and unused PTO, despite unclear records of his leave. "We questioned the hours," said Houston Housing Authority Chairman Jody Proler, who was surprised by the PTO payment and later corrected the mistake of paying it before Northern signed the agreement. The board also stopped all investigations into Northern's time at Houston Housing Authority, including air-conditioning contract issues, as part of the settlement. Meanwhile, two Houston Housing Authority employees, Rakesha Thomas and Jackee Carney, were found to have terminated rental program participants without following proper procedures. "It gives them the right to defend themselves, to hire counsel, present evidence," said attorney Kim Brown, according to Click 2 Houston.
The Houston Housing Authority has had problems with paperwork and the voucher program, affecting vulnerable people. The Houston Chronicle reported that some former homeless voucher holders, like Annette Smith, were wrongly evicted. Houston Housing Authority official Thomas admitted to ending vouchers without sending termination letters to "cut corners," while Carney said he didn’t know about the policy. Despite this, both kept their jobs, and the Houston Housing Authority said they were working on bigger issues. Smith, who lost her voucher without notice, said in court, "There was a miscommunication somewhere."
