Houses for Healing expands in Abilene, aiding NICU & transplant needs

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Houses for Healing in Abilene is gaining another address, the lot next door. Although it is currently empty, president and founder Brian Massey said it will soon be filled with eight new homes and a space for maintenance and security.

“We will have four units that will be primarily for NICU needs and youth-related medical crisis needs. Additionally, we’ll have four units for transplant candidates,” Massey explained.

The nonprofit, seeing a rise in temporary medical housing needs, said there is a need, especially for NICU and transplant residents.

“We do see a large and increasing need regarding NICU lodging and youth-related lodging needs. We have taken care of several families. In fact, that was our very first guest here at phase two, who was a NICU need,” Massey explained. “We’re always on the verge of running out of houses, just getting really close. In fact, we’ve had to become a little more selective about who we can say yes to.”

With 20 houses sponsored by various Big Country churches, Massey said he enjoys seeing the transformation.

“We also see a lot of need for transplant candidates. In fact, today there’s a gentleman that’s been staying with us for a while that had to hurry up and get to Fort Worth because there’s a liver that came available for him,” Massey said.

A community, he said, truly takes a village to cultivate.

“It involves a Christian faith community here in Abilene that is very, very strong. We don’t just say that we love our neighbors, we do it,” Massey said.

The organization is still fundraising for the next phase, which will continue the impact with eight additional houses. They hope to have it completed by the end of 2025.