[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6749823,"mediaKeyId","5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c","parentId",5063515,"title","Manassas Department of Social Services reports declines in poverty rate, expands opioid and housing programs","audioSeconds",365,"startMs",2795000,"endMs",3160000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c&start=2795&end=3160","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c/thumbnail_2795000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6749823/Virginia/Manassas-Department-of-Social-Services-reports-declines-in-poverty-rate-expands-opioid-and-housing-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749823-963edd95c6d66f7ad837fccf48082d72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771055213&Signature=Sg6SPuRSCMVrkE9BYm2LSuAisk91JtIst2pM62VeBGLI7VjzTYCPAfQz0ZQmO8DChD5yxIlyxU-~xck3Kc-mlafgONXAftqL3GWJKZ4nxCQCH9B-x5Plh1PDFmQsAgLveP2ptxQa2I2JxYQ8JEgAkDGfHGO5fGP24ndTgtDG~7hvjDuY9wDIuc-~PM32~jgi-Kd59ZAaAKoqeNLuKTj-Mho0oP-jPpWY21NvGiQmUyFX4wy1SOz6MKHll48JrwW1nB6mqSWsyfl6EW5H7~yuSs1DjlHVWeG4EOrxLSVgR4naWVbxL-zaMmyNzvsdnBuu3PvZX1XATj~hksKs24QAEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Manassas City","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","Nicole Kirvin, director of the Manassas Department of Social Services, told the City Council on Feb. 24 that her department assisted 11,119 families last year and saw a modest reduction in the share of residents classified as ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed).

Kirvin said the department served a monthly average of 328 households for housing assistance, an increase she attributed to reductions in the voucher waitlist and expanded outreach. She told council that about $4.5 million in rental assistance was paid directly to landlords in the last fiscal year to maintain housing stability for residents.

The report laid out recent program changes and new grants. The department added two fully funded positions without city-general-fund increases and reinstated an internship program with George Mason University to expand workforce capacity. Kirvin described a new opioid-abatement initiative that coordinates Manassas Police and Fire & Rescue data with juvenile justice and community-service partners to reach at-risk youth and provide earlier interventions. She also cited the department’s use of Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act (VJCCCA) funding and an “E-3” partnership with police as ways to intervene before substance misuse escalates.

Kirvin presented data showing a reduction in the ALICE population from 47% the prior year to 41%, and noted Medicaid remains the dominant safety-net program: about 97% of public-assistance recipients were enrolled in Medicaid; SNAP, TANF and other programs make up the remainder. She said child-care assistance increased substantially, with 412 children served and roughly $700,000 in child-care funding brought into the city for those services.

Council members pressed staff on several details: how the SNAP increase aligns with post-pandemic policy changes, the composition and source of the $4.5 million in landlord payments (Kirvin said payments are direct rent subsidies paid on behalf of eligible households), and the current housing-voucher waitlist estimate (Kirvin said the waitlist had fallen from roughly 2,000 to $3.75 — presented as a waitlist figure expressed in thousands on department slides and discussed as a significant reduction). Kirvin cautioned that HUD guidance had placed some housing actions on pause, limiting immediate movement of additional vouchers.

Kirvin urged residents to consider foster-care training and shared a QR code for prospective foster parents. She closed by emphasizing the department’s community outreach activities—Narcan trainings with Fire & Rescue, pop-up awareness events with the library, and an elder-resource fair—and noted that alternative community funding of roughly $205,000 had been maximized to help cover local needs without relying solely on federal dollars.

Council acknowledged the report and thanked social-services staff for expanded hours and weekend response capacity.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Manassas City Council 2/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","City Social Services reported reduced poverty metrics, nearly 11,119 families served in the past year, expansion of opioid-abatement work and juvenile prevention partnerships, and a marked increase in housing-assistance caseloads and rental payments to landlords.","taxTitle","Manassas, Prince William County, Virginia","taxId",56304,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6749808,"Jenny Dean Elementary highlights ‘by-name, by-need’ strategy, expands staff-led small-group instruction",832,1638000,2470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c&start=1638&end=2470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c/thumbnail_1638000.jpg","/articles/6749808/Virginia/Jenny-Dean-Elementary-highlights-by-name-by-need-strategy-expands-staff-led-small-group-instruction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749808-19753094f90cebb6927e8d86b34f796e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771055213&Signature=hQfXPdhnJGlClcB6hvI6CWFyyNQr-JZCTB7pKVvlVRcM6YU83ZFcbQGsVjuMjmpjQv4D-w-LbZLg7p1AbWOOouJEeuGU3XTOdDQcIPpS9HqHWOJBlbgu76DI6YQpJNOz82lZiLTKKePxRdtPcgt8RdGXbq8Dgu8I9gx6Pv9K0j6lVT-JHMRU3VFvE4~7Z00Q-PJxo4pM7pw7IS-MFcBHtis1dDRMsKFGcLICvW9-ePuwJc0Khzx2S6wTwdd4fZuprP0-b~UYpv9fsRm9AiLOfb-hDUC9LWQNAznKb0yH4zKo3c-U0WFZ-tnKZOI0B73ZSYDJP6ANk0rJ5y-oId55zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Principal Brian Coleman and assistant principal Kelly Huntley presented Jenny Dean Elementary’s efforts to identify every student’s needs and deliver small-group instruction to meet them.

Coleman said the school runs weekly data cycles that populate spreadsheets showing which students are passing, near passing or below grade level; teachers then form small instructional groups and administrators regularly teach or co-teach sessions. Coleman described the school’s approach as “by name and by need,” and said that the building staff participate in direct instruction, breakfasts and student greeting routines — he noted he greets students each morning and high-fives many of them.

Attendance had improved for students with more than 10% absence, dropping from nearly 19% in 2023–24 to just above 16% in January, Coleman said. The principal also noted student and staff morale programs such as monthly teacher celebrations and community engagement through arts programs.

Council members asked about breakfast provision and the importance of universal meals; Coleman said breakfast is “essential” and described daily routines of serving preschool and elementary students before class.

Council thanked Coleman and staff for the presentation and for hands-on leadership in classrooms and the community.","Principal Brian Coleman described Jenny Dean’s focus on weekly data reviews, small-group instruction, staff involvement in classroom teaching, and universal breakfast for students as key drivers in improving attendance and outcomes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6749813,"Manassas Police cite rise in larceny, declines in DUIs and overdoses; department keeps CALEA accreditation",321,6794000,7115000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c&start=6794&end=7115","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c/thumbnail_6794000.jpg","/articles/6749813/Virginia/Manassas-Police-cite-rise-in-larceny-declines-in-DUIs-and-overdoses-department-keeps-CALEA-accreditation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749813-5f0db58866c81ff25c42e4f8a75531f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771055213&Signature=On1F6C-0c5nS4KjeOlkYint7WS8fDHCBiiO7wublrSUtqELjRKMN-D72zY9BRnOMSQSKpps5YX8ZF6l1ZmHYyN0tWabZHVDCGS1PRmQNLffG12wPdul9UgMG2A8bxjgg-paaCLcaaQXpSMRE~IpcNoy5YOmsPTjoJgj~fmNXSbvSSv6pE13Wv9294RrgJYKJ07duO1VjXeXcZxpRLqmTBwxOo2M2Afx9F6nE1NU8xrKbUiFL5alXlQ9hgO9bD0TNexXoMg1RnrxzUdKQ2Kb5374g744YVJT5PevZChmfmMcciD51opjEg0g-Ouyeu4uSn71HVrVSJOaekvT4OHrItg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Doug Keane and Captain Trey Lawler presented the Manassas Police Department's 2024 annual report, outlining crime trends, enforcement activity, staffing and community-engagement efforts.

The report said Part I offenses per 1,000 residents rose from 20 to 21, driven primarily by an increase in larceny (roughly 80% of crimes citywide are larcenies). The department reported an overall 6% decline in “incidents” and a marked drop in DUI arrests tied to saturated patrols. Overdose-related calls fell 19% from the prior year; the department highlighted community-resource and diversion programs as contributing factors.

Keane and Lawler also noted sustained community engagement: expansions in social-media safety messaging, school and business outreach, and awards for individual officers and teams. The department maintained its CALEA accreditation (its eighth award, Keane said) and emphasized continuing efforts to diversify hiring and to monitor use-of-force, traffic-enforcement, and crash hotspots — particularly the Liberia Avenue/Centerville Road corridor.

Council members asked about training and staffing; the chiefs said professional development, in-house training capacity and leadership development remain priorities, enabled by the new public-safety training facility. The presentation closed with an assurance that departmental strategic planning and accreditation would guide 2025 priorities including rewriting mission and leadership statements.

Council recognized officers honored by regional organizations and thanked staff for community work and daily public-safety duties.","The police department reported a 6% increase in Part I offenses driven largely by larceny, while DUI and overdose incidents declined; the department emphasized community policing, CALEA re-accreditation and targeted traffic enforcement.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6749818,"Manassas Fire & Rescue reports staffing progress, new DEA licensing and improved EMS metrics",748,4869000,5617000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c&start=4869&end=5617","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c/thumbnail_4869000.jpg","/articles/6749818/Virginia/Manassas-Fire-Rescue-reports-staffing-progress-new-DEA-licensing-and-improved-EMS-metrics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749818-4403a53e1ce4a314534f8c6a53389b10/orig.mp4?Expires=1771055213&Signature=eHmJ-haHTnAtqPMFngMJw7Ts3~Rh6WQqNljhGhv2-aQN1xxrpTQXvOcoH8ceo22ZvvA6FkW81i0Rgf-NA92dEIW8KkNZmlQYED2bmJZjv3Fb7KamhZPXL5a0TPtPwxrSm8xVh~8c~lWdKO7h6N9zdU7mdQaU3SlynIO9J8mTJbBZzFd8i8cqe7Q88SpD0OzRTJnSRqNeOvoxZWIykb4KqQ55SZiCQRXy2f6lqyxsVzfR~dx11GY3akg4-5aU5H51sk5qzcyaKoUuQBI-27RdzhjQt4yzD3UrdzlSF-ygxkMqeOFCnppeLjA8n0Tf0s0zKVCtUtltvW2jPuM0w~oeuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Mills told the council that 2024 brought measurable operational changes for Manassas Fire & Rescue: the department reduced vacancies (to four as of the report), hired 12 personnel and retained volunteers who filled critical gaps. He said training hours rose, school-safety visits are expected to increase in spring, and the department’s overall city response time averaged five minutes and four seconds.

The department highlighted emergency medical performance indicators: 100% compliance for sepsis alerts and stroke notifications, 96% compliance for respiratory protocols and 79% compliance for cardiac chest-pain protocol in instances deemed cardiac in nature. Mills said cardiac-arrest termination rates in the field were 45%, and that about 80% of cases where resuscitation was not continued involved do-not-resuscitate orders.

A significant operational change was completion of DEA licensing and the establishment of an in-house pharmacy so ambulances and crews could carry and account for controlled medications. That step required new documentation, disposal and chain-of-custody procedures; Mills said his EMS supervisors led that effort and that the department was the first in the Northern Virginia region to stand up an in-house pharmacy under the new process.

Awards and safety programs were also reported. The department received a 2024 EMS Agency of the Year award and a Virginia Fire Chiefs Association health-and-safety award tied to a protective-hood exchange program intended to reduce cancer risk for firefighters. Chief Mills also described community safety work: the department and volunteers installed more than 300 smoke detectors in a neighborhood, with an upcoming March 22 detector day planned.

Councilmembers commented on the department’s data collection, praised the return-on-investment from training and praised the department’s use of data to guide deployment and capital planning. Chief Mills said Station 1 relocations and previous analysis indicate the department should meet a five-minute response target citywide once planned station moves are complete.","Fire Chief Mills reported fewer vacancies, expanded training hours, improved EMS performance on stroke and sepsis alerts, and completion of a DEA licensing process that enabled the department’s in-house pharmacy and medication accountability system.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6749804,"City Council approves emergency-operations plan, merit increases for constitutional officers and joint county–city committee appointments",159,8147000,8306000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c&start=8147&end=8306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063515-1e332ba6a950a541f60a81457929e76c/thumbnail_8147000.jpg","/articles/6749804/Virginia/City-Council-approves-emergency-operations-plan-merit-increases-for-constitutional-officers-and-joint-countycity-committee-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749804-d4bbbc6e04c072f2c78bb711e60000ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771055213&Signature=iSBxYsOgNn6gH2NPArY8uzXyJirWSpL-jl6dVCkji0w0FU26T5Dao1t2D6i~arYxXS1E9ipYMkgaPdSGiyHgoCnCi9xnPTw~vHEIcBLgzv1pAxH623TTPBmueku9qS7a6R9i6xUzlf~rdfO4z7hu14wiX7hjCjPheXlcKwTZMZ5val9aS4qfPiPbciL5c~Jqba9EPeqojDN5P9J3aZEFnzcSeFoU-cf7~bABreeVx8c1lD~ph6Xtzj4rzeoW~MjKzLMkXWmwHBJaEmaC2rZ8WIBvU7VDi0LwtHBu3Zql0zhoAwAVUYOWeuPkblWKqtyQnb24JfsuJQAjvN3bmeA~ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its meeting on Feb. 24 the Manassas City Council approved several resolutions on a unanimous roll-call vote.

The council voted to adopt Resolution R-2025-517, renewing the city’s Emergency Operations Plan (reviewed by all relevant departments). The measure passed after staff said no substantive changes were required following the statutory four-year review.

Council also approved Resolution R-2025-581 to grant merit increases and compensation adjustments for constitutional officers, effective April 1, 2025. City staff provided the council a breakdown of state and city shares of salaries for constitutionally elected offices and described full-time staffing levels in the Treasurer’s and Commissioner of the Revenue’s offices during the discussion.

Finally, the council approved Resolution R-2025-588 appointing representatives to a Prince William County–cities joint interjurisdictional ad hoc committee on shared services, health and social services, housing, economic development and infrastructure. The mayor and Councilwoman Vasquez Luna were named as the city’s primary representatives, with Vice Mayor Wolf designated as alternate.

Other council business included approval of the consent agenda and authorization of a closed session to discuss terms for a proposed real-property acquisition on Sudley Road. After the closed session council certified the closed meeting and recorded votes.

Votes at a glance (roll-call outcomes as recorded in meeting minutes):

- Consent agenda: Approved (Council votes recorded: Vasquez Luna — yes; Smith — yes; Ellis — yes; O'Cena — yes; Hudson — yes).
- Resolution R-2025-517 (Emergency Operations Plan): Adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution R-2025-581 (Merit increases/compensation for constitutional officers): Adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution R-2025-588 (Joint interjurisdictional ad hoc committee appointments): Adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution R-2025-605 (Authorization to convene closed meeting regarding Sudley Road real-property purchase): Adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution R-2025-604 (Certification after closed session): Adopted (unanimous).

Council members made no roll-call dissents on these measures during the meeting; staff said supporting materials or further clarifications would be provided in follow-up materials for items that raised detail questions (for example, the constitutional-officer salary breakout).","Manassas City Council approved the city emergency-operations plan, merit/compensation adjustments for constitutional officers effective April 1, and appointments to a joint interjurisdictional ad hoc committee; the consent agenda passed as presented.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Manassas Department of Social Services reports declines in poverty rate, expands opioid and housing programs

Jenny Dean Elementary highlights ‘by-name, by-need’ strategy, expands staff-led small-group instruction

Manassas Police cite rise in larceny, declines in DUIs and overdoses; department keeps CALEA accreditation

Manassas Fire & Rescue reports staffing progress, new DEA licensing and improved EMS metrics

City Council approves emergency-operations plan, merit increases for constitutional officers and joint county–city committee appointments