Temporary housing housing a northern resident (6)
I believe the answer is:
tenant
'resident' is the definition.
(tenant is a kind of resident)
'temporary housing housing a northern' is the wordplay.
'temporary housing' becomes 'tent'.
'housing' indicates putting letters inside.
'northern' becomes 'n' (abbreviation e.g. N. Ireland).
'a'+'n'='an'
'tent' enclosing 'an' is 'TENANT'.
(Other definitions for tenant that I've seen before include "Occupier but not owner" , "One who pays the landlord" , "individual bound by lease" , "he or she rents" , "his flat?" .)