Thelma Gibson Health Initiative asks South Miami for $200,000 to expand senior services

Jordan Thomas, director of operations for the Thelma Gibson Health Initiative, told the City Commission on July 21 that TGHI has served South Miami seniors for 24 years and now serves more than 100 residents ages 75 and older at the South Miami Senior Center.

"We help them apply for and renew SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare, Golden Passport, and STS transportation," Thomas said. He described TGHI's services as hands‑on: care coordination, appointment scheduling, mail review and assistance with Social Security hearings. He said TGHI also runs digital‑literacy and budgeting workshops and, with partners, recently distributed more than 300 hurricane‑preparedness meal kits to seniors.

Thomas asked the Commission for a one‑time contribution of $200,000 from the Health Facility Fund to pay for four priorities: staffing (case managers and health navigators), expanded mental‑health therapy, targeted enrollment for isolated seniors in the Community Redevelopment Area and sustaining outreach and preparedness programming. "With the support of the Health Facility Fund, we will be able to reach even more elderly residents across your community when they need us most," he said.

Commissioners welcomed the presentation but pressed for more detail. Commissioner Rodriguez asked for documentation of TGHI's budget and how the requested funds would be spent. "It's not recurring, right? It's a one‑time fund," Rodriguez said, requesting a written plan that explains the staffing and operating timeline. Vice Mayor Corey and Commissioner Calle likewise asked staff to provide an annual cost breakdown for serving South Miami residents, the current funding mix and any grant or contract terms that govern TGHI's work.

Thomas said TGHI receives support from the City of Miami, the county and private organizations and offered to deliver a full written budget and a scope of work for the Commission's review.

Why it matters: TGHI serves a fragile senior population in South Miami; a one‑time City contribution could expand case management and mental‑health capacity but commissioners want to know how the money would complement existing funding and how long new positions would be sustained. The matter will return to the Commission after staff and TGHI provide the requested budget detail.

Next steps: TGHI will submit a written budget breakdown to the City Clerk and staff will review the request as part of budget deliberations this season.