CFHP Provides Affordable Housing and Employment

A Manager with SP Investment Fund, LLC in Los Angeles, Gil Seton works primarily with investing in real estate ventures involving apartment complexes that provide affordable housing and receive some form of government subsidy. Gil Seton has worked with numerous local, state and federal housing subsidy programs, including the Century Freeway Housing Program (CFHP) which was funded with federal funds and originally administered by the State of California Housing and Community Development Department. Later, the CFHP became administered by a private non-profit named Century Housing Corporation.

CFHP grew out of a need to address affordable housing in areas extending from Norwalk to LAX (airport) that was destroyed so that the Century Freeway f (I-105) could be built. In a landmark decision, Judge Harry Pregerson of the United State Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit presided over a Consent Decree wherein Caltrans and the Department of Transportation were required to provide funds to subsidize the replacement of the affordable housing stock that would be demolished to make way for the Century Freeway. The funds went to the newly created Century Freeway Housing Program.

Billed as the largest construction project at the time, the city would have its freeway, but the residents would also be provided 4,000 affordable housing units, in addition to employment opportunities for both women and minorities.

Hearts with Hope - a Lifesaving Legacy Passed from Father to Son

As manager of Los Angeles based SP Investment Fund, LLC, Gil Seton has led the creation of the firm's substantial investment portfolio of affordable multifamily housing units that serve tens of thousands of low and very low income individuals, as well as the firm's substantial early stage technology company portfolio with a focus on biotechnology and life sciences. Gil Seton’s many charitable and social service interests include Hearts with Hope, an organization that sends medical, dental, and humanitarian help to children with congenital heart disease in Peru and other Latin American countries.

One of the goals of Hearts with Hope is to provide education and training to medical personnel in under-resourced countries, allowing them to expand their medical infrastructures so they can better diagnose and treat pediatric congenital heart conditions.

Hearts with Hope began with founder Dr. Juan Alejos, a pediatric cardiologist at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. Dr. Alejos was inspired by the work of his late father, also a pediatrician. The elder Dr. Alejos had received his medical training in Peru. After his death, his son visited Peru to connect with family memories.

While in Peru, Dr. Alejos offered to lecture at the country’s only pediatric hospital, but officials there urged him to provide hands-on training for the staff instead. Later, Dr. Alejos, accompanied by other cardiologists, returned to Peru. They performed surgeries while instructing their peers, and a new organization was born.

Over the years, Hearts with Hope has expanded its lifesaving work to Bolivia, Central America, and the Philippines. The organization’s team members commit to working with local physicians for 10 years to help them build both skills and infrastructure.

Operation Smile’s Unique Way of Thanking COVID-19 Frontliners

SP Investment Fund, LLC manager Gil Seton handles the acquisition of general and limited partner in limited partnerships which own affordable apartment units. Gil Seton supports various charitable institutions, such as Operation Smile.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Operation Smile medical volunteers continue to show up to provide patients with medical attention they need. In order to show gratitude and thanks to Operation Smile medical volunteers and other healthcare professionals on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, Operation Smile has launched the “Thank You” campaign.

Operation Smile co-founder Kathy Magee said that the Thank You campaign is a way to thank healthcare volunteers for their dedication and bravery, and for relentlessly working hard in order to save lives. The campaign was launched on April 17, 2020 in time for the observance of the National Doctor’s Day, a day in a year when doctors are appreciated for saving lives.

Under the Thank You campaign, Operation Smile staff members are sending messages of encouragement and thanks to frontliners. Pictures of them holding these messages were posted in different social media platforms for the volunteers to see.

Volunteers, such as family medicine practitioner at a Seattle hospital Dr. Jennifer Lin, knew of the Thank You campaign and were grateful for the support they get during this difficult time. Dr. Lin said the messages helped her to stay positive.

Benefits of Including Amenities in Affordable Housing Units

SP Investment Fund LLC executive Gil Seton has been involved with efforts to preserve affordable housing stock in a number of states located across the United States. Many of these renovations involve renovating affordable housing communities with amenities usually found in market-rate or luxury buildings.

As the benefits of amenities in all types of housing (including low-income and affordable housing) become clear, more developers are incorporating communal areas into multi-unit building plans. Many cities with federally designated opportunity zones also encourage builders to include spaces that contribute to a higher quality of life, including shared green areas, fitness centers, and child care centers.

Open spaces and community areas encourage neighbors to interact and contribute to a strong sense of community. Gyms and fitness centers also make it easier for residents to stay active and healthy. Developers are also experimenting with buildings that house community-based organizations on site. These organizations may conduct vital programming such as job training, as well as healthy living initiatives that promote sustainable practices like urban gardening.

Improving Medical Outcomes for Under-served Populations

As the manager of SP Investment Fund LLC, Gil Seton oversees investment opportunities in socially impactful companies and projects. During Gil Seton’s tenure, the investment firm has funded the work of a number of life sciences start-ups, including Coral Genomics, a company that aims to improve diversity in clinical trials to ensure that medical research findings apply to a wider range of people.

Despite the changing racial and ethnic demographics of the United States that soon will make minority groups the majority, people of color are still underrepresented in clinical and medical trials. Similar disparities exist in every demographic.

The majority of clinical trial participants are healthy, middle-aged, white males. This means that approved drugs may harm other groups who are not proportionally represented in the trial process.

Experts in the research field have sought strategies to boost participant diversity. One of the most effective efforts is the widening of trial criteria.

Many trials exclude people because of their age, weight, or health conditions. These criteria should be removed or modified to ensure that participant pools are more reflective of end-users.

Further, to make participation more accessible to a wider group of people, researchers should address logistical barriers, such as a lack of transportation. Additionally, focusing recruitment efforts in areas with more diversity attracts more participants from varied backgrounds.