California’s unforgiving entertainment industry has sent countless aspiring performers back to where their dreams began. Vinny Smyth returned to The Golden State to pick up where his dreams ended.

For 12 years Vinny traveled the country as a stand-up comedian, following the renowned Comedy Store circuit that helped launch the careers of iconic entertainers like David Letterman and Robin Williams. Vinny’s work in such a well-known Hollywood venue even helped him land a few small movie roles along the way, however no amount of success could prepare him for what happened next.

“I came out here and did the Hollywood thing, got caught on drugs, went back to Cincinnati, and was on a ten-year drug binge,” he said. Back in his hometown, he started “drinking and drugging real bad,” fueled by several personal setbacks such as his mother’s death.

Despite the power of addiction, Vinny was determined to correct his mistakes. He returned to California, bringing his wife and stepchildren to San Francisco. With no specific housing or job prospects, they ended up in Hamilton Family Center, a PHC nonprofit partner that specializes in family housing assistance.

His wife, a teacher, found a position with the San Francisco Unified School District. Vinny went to work as an “independent contractor” for Visa/Mastercard. “We got a place, and we got out of the homeless situation,” he said.

Now clean and sober for four years, Vinny uses his past personal hardship to continue a cause he has supported for a long time. “I’ve always wanted to help the homeless,” he said, adding that battling homelessness is “a passion of mine” as he knows many people without a permanent home.
Vinny performed comedy shows to benefit the homeless even while drugs and alcohol dominated his life in Cincinnati. These days memories of his own homelessness only strengthen his commitment to helping others find stable housing. “I’ve been there, done that, and I’ve got friends who’ve been there, so it means something to me to help these kinds of programs,” he said.

For the last two years Vinny has served as emcee for the outdoor PHC event in Bayview relying on his comedic skills and stage experience to keep the program moving and the audience involved. Vinny provides his talent and services pro bono to the project. “Even though I need the money, I do it for free because it’s giving back,” he said.