Data center growth is tightening housing market, sparking homelessness concerns

________________________ Homelessness remains a growing concern as city leaders and service providers look for ways to respond and expand support for people without stable housing. At the same time, Abilene’s housing market is seeing increased pressure as large data center projects continue to expand across the Big Country. Former councilman Blaise Regan said data center development in Abilene, Shackelford County and Haskell County has created a major increase in housing demand as more workers move into the area. “We’ve seen a huge spike in demand for housing and we see that only continuing for the next eight to ten years,” said Regan. The city expects more homes to hit the market over the next year and a half as developers work to close the gap between supply and demand, but Regan also acknowledged that renters are still feeling the pressure now. “It will be tough sledding for renters I think for the next year or so,” said Regan. Regan said homelessness has been a significant challenge in Abilene for years, long before data centers arrived. Regan pointed to local organizations like Hope Haven, The Salvation Army and Betty Hardwick Center as key partners helping people experiencing homelessness. Still, he said rising housing costs remain a concern, especially for renters already struggling to afford housing. “If rent doubles or triples that puts them out of a house and we increase the number of homeless here in our community,” Regan said. When asked whether the city is doing enough to address homelessness as growth and large-scale development continue, Regan said he believes the housing market will stabilize over time and remains optimistic homelessness numbers can continue to decline if community efforts remain strong. He said the city is taking a proactive approach to both housing and homelessness, but added that continued partnerships with nonprofits and additional housing development will be critical in the years ahead. DETAILS: https://ktxs.com/news/local/homelessness-grows-in-abilene-as-community-leaders-look-for-solutions Follow us on social media: KTXS News on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KTXSTelevision KTXS News on X https://x.com/KTXS_News KTXS News on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ktxsnews/?hl=en For more information, visit https://ktxs.com/ Have a news tip? Send it to us at news@ktxs.com #datacenter #data #homelessness