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Manager's Message 6 <br /> Manager's Message <br /> The Countywide Strategic Plan highlights the priority goals that will move the county toward our vision for the future, <br /> in which we work together to enhance the quality of life for all residents.Six months into the second year of the <br /> county's strategic plan,we continue to see early successes in many areas,while working to address some challenges in <br /> the Healthy Community and Housing For All Priority Areas. <br /> We are on track in our measures promoting environmental sustainability. Notably, LED light conversion projects in <br /> county buildings are reducing energy used in county facilities,and recent solar projects are increasing the solar <br /> energy generated by county facilities.We anticipate continued progress in solar generation now that the solar <br /> feasibility study is complete,which will help us prioritize future solar projects. <br /> In our focus on a healthy community,we are seeing progress in mental health,emergency response,and criminal <br /> justice system diversion programming.One area of concern, however, is a recent decrease in the percentage of <br /> estimated eligible food insecure households in the county served by food and nutrition services.The Department of <br /> Social Services sends notices to all current program recipients of upcoming eligibility changes and notification one <br /> month before their recertification is due.To recruit new participants, DSS is pursuing collaborative efforts with <br /> community-based organizations to facilitate applications for those who are eligible.The County's food security <br /> program is focused on strengthening the local food system and eliminating food insecurity in Orange County.A <br /> maintained list of food distributions, pantries,and other food security support resources is available on the county <br /> website. <br /> We have seen success in some County housing programs.The County has already surpassed the previous fiscal year in <br /> our success housing residents in permanent supportive housing,and eviction diversion programs continue to be <br /> successful for program recipients.We have resumed processing housing discrimination cases,and have fully cleared <br /> out the backlog, now taking on several new cases. <br /> Public Transportation faced staffing shortages in the first six months of this fiscal year that impacted ridership, but <br /> with the driver pool now fully staffed,we expect to see improvements in the second half of the fiscal year. Outreach <br /> for transportation information is focused on increasing fixed route ridership. <br /> Additional highlights in this report include digital literacy programming expansion, positive preliminary results in <br /> economic development grant programs,and a targeted increase in employment services program success rates. <br /> Strategic Plan Progress Report I Mid FY25-26 Page 5 <br />