Low-income residents at risk as Abilene housing tightens

Feb. 12, 2026  | KACU 89.5 FM

Feb. 11, 2026  |  West Texas Tribune

There was a shortage of over 5,600 Abilene housing units in April 2023, according to an affordable housing report done by Padsplit. Since then, around 6,000 workers have moved to Abilene to construct the Stargate data center, further inflating the housing market.  

Gene Reed, chief executive officer of the Abilene Housing Authority, said the influx of workers has put a spotlight on housing issues that have existed for years.

The Abilene Housing Authority works on behalf of the federal government to administer the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Reed said there are around 8,000 families on the waiting list, and the number grows every day. For those who do receive vouchers, often it isn’t enough. 

“The demand is tremendously outweighing the supply of units, which is driving up those rental units, which is making it very challenging for low-income families to either find the unit or be able to afford the unit,” Reed said.

Reed said he has had conversations with senators and congress members in Washington, D.C., about receiving more funding to assist families, because “when the rental rates really start to explode, it doesn’t send us any more money. It just means that we can house fewer families.”

Gage Roach is a founder of Joy Over One Ministries, a ministry that serves individuals experiencing homelessness in Abilene. Roach said he could see the Abilene homeless population doubling within the next 10 years since the Stargate data center will create just a few hundred permanent on-site jobs.

“When the construction is done, and all of those employees leave, we’re going to be left with a high housing market, no one able to afford it, and a lot of displaced people,” Roach said.

Roach calls upon churches to support the homeless community and low-income families more than they are right now. He said he’s frustrated with the churches that did not open up shelter during the winter storm that hit Abilene at the end of January. 

“With Abilene being the big church center that it is and having as many churches as we do, Christ calls us to take care of people that are poor and weak and need our help. And I think we’ve really forgotten that, and the churches have really forgotten that,” Roach said.

Roach said he understands that bringing homeless people in has certain risks. “As a church, you gotta accept those risks. You know, that’s part of it,” he said. “I get that it’s an inconvenience, but that’s what God’s called us to do. And if you’re not going to do that, then you can’t call yourself a follower of Christ.”

There were no emergencies related to people experiencing homelessness during the winter storm, according to Vincent Cantu, emergency management coordinator for the City of Abilene. 

“Working with our homelessness network and our Salvation Army and other organizations that support this population, I believe we were able to find a solution to get those individuals the shelter that they needed,” Cantu said.

The Salvation Army slept an average of 60 people per night and kept their shelter open during the day as a warming center. Joe Burton, commanding officer of the Salvation Army in Abilene, said, in total, they provided close to 700 people with life-saving shelter from freezing temperatures.

 “Fortunately, we did not see any more additional assistance that was needed, so the Salvation Army was able to provide that ministry to the community,” Burton said.

Burton said he is concerned that transient workers may be vulnerable to falling into homelessness once their work contract expires. 

The Abilene Housing Authority advises families to look outside of Taylor County for affordable options, but Reed said even that solution presents additional problems. 

“So for some of the low-income families that we service, they don’t always have reliable transportation, and they depend on the bus system to get around from time to time,” Reed said.

Those who do have transportation might not be able to afford gas or the wear and tear damage that accumulates on their vehicle from driving long distances to get to work every day. There are more employment opportunities in Abilene than in cheaper rural areas, so working outside of Abilene may not be an option either. 

Reed said the housing authority is willing to help in any way they possibly can, “in terms of building additional housing for low-income and middle-income families through workforce housing.” 

Landmark on Cypress, a historical downtown building built in 1923, is being renovated to become a 49-unit affordable housing complex. The Overland Property Group website says the complex will welcome residents this spring. The Abilene City Council approved a resolution of support for the development in February 2025, after initially denying support in January.

There is another request on the Abilene City Council agenda to be reviewed on Feb. 12. Abilene City Manager Emily Crawford said the city continues to investigate how to encourage housing development by the public and private sector.