Local Journalist Stirs Controversy Over Unhoused on Neighborhood App

Austin, Texas, U.S.A. - May 24, 2025 - - /LaGuardia Media PR Presswire/- - An Austin man causes a fuss when he posts an article he wrote to Nextdoor; a neighborhood social networking app designed to connect neighbors within a specific geographic area. On Nextdoor, users can share information, connect with others in their neighborhood, and participate in local discussions, and one such discussion was pretty eye-opening. The article sparking this discussion is entitled “Disturbing Trend of Vagrants Camping in Vacant Homes in NW Austin”, and was written by Daryl K. Jones. Jones is a business journalist, freelance writer and publicist who has been published by several media outlets across the country. Jones has also had his stories and news releases featured on CNN, CBS, ABC, FOX, and NBC.

Discussing the current situation of homelessness in his neighborhood, Jones’ article explains how police displacement of the people who live in the underpasses near his home has caused them to search for shelter elsewhere. Many are finding shelter in the vacant homes that are for sale in the area, and some are even causing damage to the properties.

A debate was sparked when one user attempted to correct Jones’ headline by commenting “Disturbing trend of "authorities" removing safe places for the unhoused to live, they're left with no choice but to use vacant houses. Fixed it for you.” Several others chimed in at that point, spreading the reach of this article to over 2,000 views within the first 24 hours of posting. There was mention of the usage of the term “unhoused”, with the implication that it’s usage is a veiled attempt to appear politically correct. Another user commented that she didn't mind people living in abandoned houses, and the thread lit up with replies, from the conversational to the downright harsh. In response, one user commented, “Give me your address. I’ll send the “unhoused” to your house so they have a safe place to shoot dr**s and r**e each other.”

Jones’ article opened dialogue about property rights, resources for homelessness, mental health, and the responsibility of those in positions of power to address the homelessness epidemic in Austin.

“It's important to note that these are not abandoned buildings, they're vacant homes up for sale in residential areas”, Jones explains. “This is not just a social issue, It's a legal issue, and a safety issue for all involved. Some owners aren't going to just stand by without retaliating, and the fact is some unhoused persons are bad actors who hustle by stealing fixtures from these homes (copper, etc) and are not just squatters. I'm staying objective in reporting. If I do have an opinion, it's that people should know. I think we can all agree on that.”

Daryl K. Jones is a business journalist, freelance writer and publicist who has been published by several media outlets, including Nevada Business Magazine, MyAustin Magazine, Chic Compass Magazine and others across the country. As a publicist, Jones has also had his stories and news releases featured on CNN, CBS, ABC, FOX, and NBC. Daryl K. Jones is a Partner and Director of Media Relations for LaGuardia Media and Public Relations.

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