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Homeless people have taken shelter in vacant buildings in their neighborhood, but a number of people have set up a tent encampment on the Ohio River bank near McClelland Park on 27th Street, Highlawn residents told The Herald-Dispatch reporter Destiney Dingess in an article published Sept. 14. People arenÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t camping at the park itself or over the bank from it, but they do use the park to access the camp, Highlawn residents say.

The larger number of homeless people in Highlawn has led to an increase in theft and other crimes in the neighborhood, residents say.

City Council candidate and Highlawn Neighborhood Association President Linda Blough said misconduct that now infiltrates the neighborhood has seeped into McClelland Park, the neighborhood park with tennis courts, shelters, a playground and a walking path. Blough said she has received a call recently from a parent who saw a person using drugs openly in the park while his child was playing.

Bryan Chambers, communications director for the City of Huntington, in a written response to The Herald-Dispatch last week, said city officials are aware of the concerns that have been expressed by Highlawn residents.

The Huntington ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ Department has dispatched its Crisis Intervention Team, which consists of police officers and mental health professionals, to the neighborhood to offer housing, mental health and substance use disorder treatment resources to any unsheltered individuals that the team encounters, Chambers said. The team will continue to monitor the neighborhood.

City officials also are communicating with representatives of the Highlawn Neighborhood Association to identify specific issues or areas that may need addressed.

ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœWe seek and expect compassionate accountability,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ� Chambers said. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœWe always strive to strike a balance between the demands of citizens and business owners for a safe, vibrant city and the needs of the unsheltered population for the provision of dignified living conditions, all the while having an ultimate goal of eliminating homelessness.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ�

Highlawn isnÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t the only neighborhood to have noticed an uptick in homeless residents, just as Huntington isnÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t the only city in the state grappling with the problem. The causes are many. Some are within city governmentÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s control, but many are not. Still, city officials must find the difficult balance between residentsÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ concerns and what local governmentÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s authority and resources allow. ItÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s definitely a question candidates running for mayor and city council in this yearÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s election must address.