Fairfax County is on the lookout for a contractor to conduct a planned panhandling survey.
The county issued a solicitation to identify a vendor this May, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority spokesperson Allyson Pearce told FFXnow.
“A selection committee is reviewing proposals and expects to decide on a vendor soon. At that time, the final logistics will be determined and the survey executed,” Pearce said.
The Board of Supervisors approved $75,000 last year to conduct a survey of individuals who ask passersby for money, often on street medians, after multiple efforts — led by Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity — to ban the practice or install anti-panhandling signage failed.
Although courts have repeatedly ruled that panhandling is protected under the First Amendment as free speech, particularly after a 2015 Supreme Court decision regarding restrictions on the content of signs, the issue remains contentious.
Many localities, including Loudoun County and Roanoke, have laws banning solicitation or loitering in street medians, while Alexandria City repealed an anti-panhandling ordinance last year, citing concerns about the potential for litigation.
Fairfax County discourages panhandling, saying it’s more effective for community members to connect people in need to long-term assistance.
When the Board of Supervisors approved the funds for the panhandling survey, Chairman Jeff McKay expressed hope that it’ll give the county a better understanding of the “root causes” behind the practice.
Pearce noted that the survey must be conducted under certain guidelines.
“Accordingly, the potential survey vendor must outline their strategy for conducting surveys of people panhandling safely for the surveyors and participants, while also maintaining the confidentiality of survey respondents,” Pearce said.
The survey is expected to be conducted within six months of the contract being executed.
