Huntington IN Chamber: Community Services

Community Services Huntington County is a safe, caring community—an outstanding place to raise a family and operate a business. Newcomers are often surprised by Huntington County residents’ rather casual attitude toward locking windows and doors. Public safety has long been a priority here. While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Huntington native J. Edward Roush launched a one-man crusade to establish emergency 911 service across the nation. Huntington was the first city on the Bell network to adopt 911 emergency dialing.

Recent upgrades make the county’s Enhanced 911 service state-of-the-art. Well-trained and highly skilled volunteer firefighters serve most of Huntington County. A staff of 41 full-time firefighters provide professional fire protection for residents of Huntington Township. Three strategically-located fire stations are equipped with modern firefighting tools, including four pumpers, aerial and grass fire trucks, and rescue boats.

The county sheriff and sheriff’s deputies protect area residents 24 hours per day. fourteen full-time officers are backed by a 18-member reserve force and 33 civilian staff. All officers undertake ongoing specialized training in a variety of law enforcement disciplines. With the advent of a 24-hour duty roster, already low crime rates have decreased in recent years.

The City of Huntington’s Police Department comprises 35 full-time officers and six civilian personnel, backed by 12 reserve officers. All active members are police academy graduates and all ranked in the top 10% of their respective classes. Huntington County is a place of good neighbors. Many residents volunteer their time through United Way agencies such as the American Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Cancer Society of Huntington County, Home Health Care and Hospice, Huntington County Council on Aging/Senior Center, Huntington County Youth Services Bureau, Huntington Family YMCA, Huntington House, Kids Kampus, Police Athletic League, The Salvation Army, and the Huntington County Literacy Coalition. Among the county’s most notable human service agencies is Pathfinder Services, Inc.

Its Community Living Services program provides 24-hour supervised group residences for adults with developmental disabilities. The Transitional Housing service helps families who are homeless get back on their feet. Another service, Community Connections, develops home ownership opportunities for families who earn $35,000 or less per year. Kids Kampus offers early intervention services for children who have special needs, as well as traditional preschool and day care services. Resource Connection is another Pathfinder initiative, offering welfare-to-work and supported employment services alongside a traditional temporary-to-permanent employment agency. Pathfinder Services also provides daytime community integration services for adults with disabilities in Huntington and nearby counties. The agency’s Commercial Services division offers employment through curb-side pickup, sorting and resale of recyclable materials, through light assembly work for industry, through the manufacture of educational aids for schools, and through janitorial services at Interstate rest areas.