The next phase in Prince William County’s ongoing Community Panhandling Response Initiative will involve extensive public awareness signage upgrades designed to direct individuals in need to community resources.
The initiative’s rollout will begin “at selected intersections where panhandling has been identified,” an Aug. 5 county news release said.
The effort will further integrate local 311 program staff, with residents encouraged to call the number upon encountering panhandlers.
Signage is also intended boost the county’s “Give Where It Counts” campaign supporting local nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to people experiencing hardship, which the county rolled out in December 2024.
According to the release, “The signage campaign is part of a broader county strategy developed by the Prince William Department of Social Services’ Panhandling Response Action Team, which was established in 2024 to address concerns raised by the Board of County Supervisors and the community. “
Prince William’s two chief priorities include linking panhandlers with services that tackle the “root causes” of their respective life situations, the release said, while also routing public contributions toward local nonprofits that can make a substantial difference, rather than to the individuals themselves.
The county’s 311 program is focused on issues of housing assistance, food resources, employment support, behavioral health services and other available programs.
This past spring, county staff collected data from its campaign across several county intersections, combining it with information from county police to identify initial prime locations for the signage and gauge the program’s success.
Signs are already being installed this month and are scheduled to remain in place for around two months.
“The phased approach will allow the team to establish measurable baseline data; deploy signage in a controlled and limited manner; evaluate effectiveness over a 60-day period; and determine potential next steps based on data and observations,” the release added.
Community members can visit pwcworks.pwcva.gov/panhandling-response for more information on the initiative, how to report panhandling through 311, how to download signs for local businesses and areas using the toolkit and ways to support local nonprofit partners through “Give Where It Counts.”
