Some stunning discoveries by KPRC Investigates into how the Houston Housing Authority was spending money last year, all while saying their funds to provide rent relief to those who need it most had dried up.
Investigative reporter Amy Davis has spent months exposing HHA for a series of questionable contracts and projects.
Thousands of people in Houston struggle to pay rent and keep a roof over their heads. The Houston Housing Authority’s mission is to provide housing for these families. However, ten months ago, the housing authority announced it was out of money to provide families with vouchers to help pay monthly rent. Davis wondered where the money went, considering the federal tax dollars involved.
In the latest development, Amy asked the housing authority to open its books, and looked through 21 months of credit card statements, revealing HHA executives dined at some of Houston’s most upscale restaurants and indulged in workplace parties and massages.
Highlights from KPRC 2 Investigates review of HHA credit card records
- One popular spot was Joey Uptown in the Galleria, where in December 2023, 13 HHA leaders enjoyed a lavish meal, including lobster tail and rib eyes, totaling $1,153.
- A two-hour cocktail reception at King Ranch Texas that same month cost over $7,600.
- If that wasn’t enough, all HHA employees were invited to a holiday party at the Gallery, which cost more than $8,000.
- An end-of-year employee appreciation lunch from Pappadeaux’s added another $371 to the bill.
- In August, a catered lunch for Unity Day exceeded $10,000.
- These expenses are just a fraction of the charges found in the credit card statements of five HHA employees. Additionally, chair massages at the office in September cost $2,300.
For senior Janet Hoffart, who is facing eviction, such expenditures are a stark contrast to her financial struggles.
“It means a lot. It means almost a few months of rent paying,” Hoffart said when asked about the $2,300 spent on massages.
Hoffart, like thousands of other Houston senior citizens, is struggling to make ends meet. More than 18,000 people are waiting for an HHA housing voucher that would help defray the cost of their rent. But HHA President and CEO David Northern said in February there is no more money for vouchers.
The biggest spender only had an HHA credit card for 9 months. Na’Shon Edwards frequently dined at high end restaurants. He ate at Steak 48 in the River Oaks District 6 times. One meal for two cost $582. Edwards was almost always dining out with his boss, David Northern. LaRence Snowden, then the HHA chairman appointed by former Mayor Sylvester Turner, was also in attendance on many occasions.
Mayor John Whitmire replaced almost every HHA board member when he took office, appointing Jody Proler as the new HHA Chairman.
Following our investigation, Northern resigned in November, along with his assistant and Senior Policy Advisor Na’Shon Edwards. Both received generous settlements to leave. Before their resignations, Davis requested to see all HHA credit card statements assigned to employees going back to the beginning of 2023.
The records revealed wild spending by just five employees who had credit cards. Between them, they charged more than half a million dollars from January 2023 to September 2024. About $100,000 of that paid for travel, including dozens of airline tickets and expensive hotels. Northern was jet-setting across the country, sometimes three times a month.
“Where exactly did they go?” Hoffart questioned. The investigation revealed a lot of travel for housing conferences and meetings. However, in November 2023, Northern made a trip to Chicago to attend the Obama Foundation Democracy Forum. This wasn’t about housing, but with Northern’s airline ticket, hotel, and rental car, the trip cost taxpayers nearly $3,000.
The stress of travel may explain why Northern ordered more than $2,000 of workout equipment, delivered to the HHA offices.
Amy takes her findings to HHA leadership
When asked if HHA will ever get the money back, HHA Chairman Jody Proler said they deducted money from Edwards’ final paycheck to account for the unsupported expenditures. David requested his final payout details.
Edwards received:
Three months of his salary = $27,692.34
Payout of accrued PTO 106.67 = $6,154.05
Minus unsupported charges of $6,575.94
Total = $27,270.45
It showed more than $6,500 was deducted from Edwards’ final paycheck when he left in November. Northern had no deductions.
RELATED: Taxpayers final gift to disgraced HHA leader
Davis asked a third party public relations firm hired by the HHA some follow-up questions about accountability and making sure the same unapproved spending doesn’t go unnoticed again.
Below us the response we received by email:
“To be sure you give correct attribution in your story, the responses to your questions were those approved by the HHA board’s outside counsel to share with you.
Q: Who determined how much money Nashon Edwards had to pay back?
A: The decision was made by the Interim President and CEO, after a careful review of the situation by the Office of General Counsel.
Q: Whose job is it to review P-card purchases and make sure they are approved?
A: The review and approval of p-card purchases is managed by the direct supervisor of the employee who has p-card privileges.
Q: Explain what HHA is doing to make sure the wild spending doesn’t happen again?
A: HHA conducts regular audits and reviews of purchases to ensure HHA funds are managed properly. HHA has also implemented enhanced oversight and additional measures to ensure expenditures align with HHA’s mission and financial guidelines. Finally, HHA is in the process of preparing a credit card use policy, which is scheduled to be presented to the HHA’s Board of Commissioners for approval at the Board’s February 2025 Board Meeting. These steps demonstrate HHA’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and safeguarding funds."
Davis did reach out to Northern and Edwards. Neither returned her calls or messages.
We will keep investigating the Houston Housing Authority as we keep getting messages from you.
Investigator Amy Davis and the team first started working on this investigation after receiving tips from viewers like you.
Email Amy at ADavis@kprc.com or producer Andrea Slaydon at ASlaydon@kprc.com if you would like to send in a tip or ask a question.
