David A. Northern, the former chief executive of the Houston Housing Authority who resigned while local and federal scrutiny swirled around the agency, has resurfaced in Michigan with a significantly sweeter deal. He is now running the Flint Housing Commission under a contract that includes a six-figure base salary and a stack of perks. Northern left Houston at the end of 2024 after a KPRC investigation into projects and spending, and his new role in Flint has pushed federal oversight and local vetting back into the spotlight. Residents and advocates say the arrangement raises fresh questions about who controls federally funded housing dollars.
Contract perks that raised eyebrows
According to Click2Houston, Northern's Flint contract, dated January 2025, is a three-year agreement that starts him at a $200,000 base salary and makes him eligible for a 25% annual bonus, a $700 monthly car allowance, full health, dental, and life insurance, and use of a commission vehicle. The reporting also notes that Northern left the Houston Housing Authority with a $210,000 settlement while the HHA board agreed not to publicly release the results of an internal probe that KPRC says found more than $4 million tied to failed projects and questionable spending. One resident told KPRC, "I am one illness away from losing everything," a comment advocates say underscores why oversight matters.
Flint's official listing
The Flint Housing Commission's official website, the Flint Housing Commission, lists David A. Northern, Sr. as its chief executive officer and makes public its board packets and meeting calendar. The commission has published agendas and plans online and, per its site, responded to records requests related to the hire and contract.
A familiar hire from Houston
Northern also brought a familiar name with him. Na'Shon Edwards was hired as Flint’s director of compliance and engagement, a move that drew scrutiny because of previous spending flagged at the Houston Housing Authority. As reported by Click2Houston, public records showed Edwards charged more than $9,400 on an agency card at upscale restaurants, and his HHA position was later eliminated. The Flint contract records show Edwards was brought on at about $90,000 a year with limited relocation and temporary housing payments, according to KPRC's more recent reporting.
Legal and oversight questions
Northern’s Flint contract also includes a clause stating that termination will not be considered for matters that originated at previous agencies, a provision critics say bluntly limits accountability if questions from Houston carry over. Federal agencies have so far offered little clarity. KPRC reporters say the HUD Office of Inspector General declined to say whether it remains active in the case, and the FBI has not confirmed or denied an inquiry. With the commission's board having extended Northern’s agreement through 2030, watchdogs and city officials say Flint needs clearer public oversight of federally funded housing work.
What's next
KPRC requested an interview with Northern; the station instead published a written statement from him in which he said his Houston tenure had concluded and that he is focused on Flint. For residents still waiting on housing assistance, critics say the episode is a reminder that local oversight and federal follow-through matter, and that officials in Flint and Houston will have to answer whether contract language and hiring choices protect taxpayers or shield past questions. We will continue to monitor public records, board agendas, and federal filings as the situation evolves.
