Disturbing Trend of Vagrants Camping in Vacant Homes in NW Austin

In NW Austin in the Lake Creek Park Area near the 183 freeway, several homes have been broken into sustaining various levels of damage, from light vandalism to broken windows. It is evident that these houses were not just vandalized by mischievous children, but were being fully lived in, by the items people would leave behind. This would include articles of clothing and undergarments, lighters, and even evidence that they’ve been using the showers. As the showers were brand new and unused previously, it wasn’t difficult for realtors or sellers to notice.

Being close to the highway system, there are several underpasses which are laid claim to by the unhoused. After efforts by law enforcement to enforce safety and sanitation measures by removing the unhoused and the accumulated debris from underpasses, many people were displaced and started to seek refuge in the residential areas, deep into the neighborhoods.

With close proximity to the creek, the neighborhood has several areas that are layered in dense foliage. This is usually where the unhoused set up camp, where they stay out of sight and how they stay out of harm’s way. Most likely due to the recent change in weather, many have taken to squatting in any one of the vacant homes that are for sale in the vicinity.

There are 1,046 vacant homes for sale in NW Austin, according to Realtor.com, and I personally know of two homeowners and one renter from the Lake Creek area who have dealt with this. I also personally spoke to one of the squatters, himself.

I had been noticing subtle shifts in certain things in my backyard which gave me a sort of “That wasn’t like that before” type of feeling. A pile of leaves that I hadn’t finished raking earlier is suddenly disheveled? No big deal, probably a squirrel. When I come home and the gate that leads to my backyard is wide open, though, there’s another thing happening, altogether. Following this, I was on high alert. Nothing was stolen, nothing was damaged, all was (relatively) well, so I made sure the gates were locked, and went on with life. After that, probably a week later, I go outside to water the plants, and I see someone in my neighbors backyard. I know he couldn’t have been a guest, because my neighbor’s house is vacant and up for sale. This also means that he had to breach the lock to gain entry. As I approached the fence, he saw me and quickly headed out my neighbor’s back gate.
Discarded wallet amongst the debris found along the trail.

Where we live, our backyards have gates that open up to a heavily wooded area containing a pond and a hiking trail that leads to Lake Creek. This is obviously from whence he came. Moving forward to four days later, I went out to my backyard in the evening one chilly, Austin night and I heard a sort of rustling outside my gate that leads to the pond and trail. I noticed that the trees were being behaved upon in a way that is heavy and unusual. This was no squirrel.

I approached the gate and I saw a young male with a bag of his belongings, a chair, and a tarp setting up camp by my back gate. I went back in the house, grabbed our leftovers, and one more item, and proceeded to address the situation. As soon as I started to approach, his first words to me were “I’m sorry, am I bothering you?”, to which I replied “Are you living out here?” With a half embarrassed, half terrified tone he answered in the affirmative. I asked his name, offered him the food and told him he could not stay back there. He thanked me and assured me that he would leave, which he did, but not before offering to sell me some sort of electronic device.

About three days ago around 10PM, I saw “Rome” in front of the neighbors house again, and Wednesday I actually got to speak with the homeowner. He informed me that they were supposed to close on the house on Friday, but because of the damaged windows and other replacements that need to be made he had to postpone.

I attempted to reach the Austin Police Department’s Public Information Office several times to see if they had any comment on this growing trend, but to no avail. I also contacted the Public Information Officer for the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department, and am awaiting their response.

-Daryl K. Jones