TMO Secures Major Victory for Life-Saving Healthcare with Ben Taub Expansion & Earns Harris Health Recognition

TMO receiving the Garnett F. Coleman Health Equity Award from Harris Health

After nearly three years of organizing, The Metopolitan Organization (TMO) leaders are celebrating a major victory for access to life-saving healthcare. The Harris County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to acquire 8.9 acres in Hermann Park to expand Ben Taub Hospital and address dangerous overcrowding at one of Houston’s most critical trauma centers.

TMO recognizes the County Commissioners for their vote to help meet the increasing demand for inpatient care in Harris County.

This win follows sustained organizing by TMO leaders, including securing nearly 2,200 petition signatures in support of the expansion online and in person at congregations throughout Harris County. Leaders educated their communities, held a press conference, delivered public testimony, and conducted behind-the-scenes negotiations and meetings with county commissioners to move the project forward.

“This is a victory for all families,” said Bishop John Ogletree, TMO leader pictured to the left. “Any one of us could have a loved one who needs to go to a Level One Trauma Center and we would want Ben Taub to have the space to treat them.”

In 2023, TMO leaders urged Harris County to include funding for the Ben Taub expansion in the Harris Health bond package—and then led a successful Get Out the Vote effort to help secure its passage. More than 73% of voters approved the $2.5 billion bond, including funding for Ben Taub’s expansion.

But two years later, Ben Taub Hospital continued operating at over 100% capacity every day as the necessary land had not been acquired to make the expansion a reality.

Over the past three months, TMO leaders intensified their efforts—attending every town hall and public hearing on the expansion and continuing to educate and mobilize their community. In person and through their petition campaign, they urged county commissioners to use eminent domain to acquire an undeveloped section of Hermann Park—while advancing solutions to improve park access, including a new parking garage.

“We were glad to hear today that Hermann Park Conservancy and Harris Health will continue to work together to provide additional parking for Hermann Park and include a healing garden and other park-like features in the area around the expansion,” said Rev. Lynette Ross of TMO and First Congregational Church. “We believe we heard the framework of the Win-Win solution that everyone has been hoping for” said Ross, of TMO.

Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia publicly thanked TMO leaders for their work on this expansion after the vote was held.

Weeks later, Harris Health awarded TMO the Garnett F. Coleman Health Equity Award -- recognizing the collective power of organized people to expand Ben Taub Hospital and increase access to life-saving healthcare for all Harris County residents.