Congressional Committee Urges Probe of Former Little Rock Housing Officials

Lawmakers allege pattern of misuse of taxpayer funds by ex-commissioners

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:49am

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A realistic oil painting depicting a public housing building in warm, muted tones, with deep shadows and a sense of solitude, conveying the somber mood surrounding allegations of financial mismanagement.The alleged misuse of public funds by former Little Rock housing officials has cast a shadow over the agency's ability to serve its vulnerable residents.Little Rock Today

Members of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee are pressing the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas to investigate and potentially bring charges against former leaders of the Little Rock housing authority. The committee cites evidence of 'a pattern of self-dealing, nepotism and theft of taxpayer dollars' by the former commissioners.

Why it matters

The Little Rock Metropolitan Housing Alliance (MHA) oversees public housing and voucher programs for the city's most vulnerable residents. Allegations of mismanagement and misuse of funds by past leadership have raised concerns about the agency's ability to effectively serve its mission and community.

The details

The committee's letter summarizes a range of accusations against former MHA commissioners, including 'unlawfully steered' contracts, improper credit card payments, and 'lavish after-work parties' that drew on housing authority resources. The letter states that at least $896,605 worth of MHA's funds were allegedly misused by the former commissioners, potentially including up to $198,605 in direct payments and benefits to the commissioners themselves.

  • In 2024, the FBI and HUD's Office of Inspector General searched the offices of the Central Arkansas Housing Corporation, the MHA's nonprofit arm, and seized a computer used by the nonprofit's former finance director.
  • In 2022, the Little Rock Board of Directors denied the reappointment of Kenyon Lowe Sr. as an MHA commissioner, who was serving as chair at the time.
  • In 2023, the city board ousted commissioners Leta Anthony and H. Lee Lindsey in response to years of unsubmitted financial audits to HUD.

The players

U.S. Rep. French Hill

The Republican congressman whose district includes most of Little Rock and who has repeatedly called attention to problems at the MHA.

Kenyon Lowe Sr.

A former MHA commissioner who was denied reappointment in 2022 while serving as chair.

Leta Anthony

A former MHA commissioner who was ousted by the city board in 2023 along with the then-chair H. Lee Lindsey.

Nadine Jarmon

The current executive director of the MHA, who was fired in 2021 after attempting to alert authorities to misconduct by the former commissioners, but was later rehired in 2024.

Jonathan D. Ross

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, who the committee is urging to investigate the former MHA officials.

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What they’re saying

“Given that MHA and its residents, many of whom are among the most vulnerable in Little Rock, have already been experiencing the consequences of the former Board's alleged criminal activity, it is time to ensure that MHA's former Commissioners also face appropriate consequences.”

— U.S. House Financial Services Committee

What’s next

The committee has requested that U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross provide a briefing on the status of any investigation by April 27.

The takeaway

The allegations of misuse of funds and self-dealing by former leaders of the Little Rock housing authority raise serious concerns about the agency's ability to effectively serve the city's most vulnerable residents. Ensuring accountability and restoring public trust in the MHA's operations will be crucial moving forward.