SMYAL Director of Youth Housing Jorge Membreño (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

This story is part of our contribution to the 2018 #DCHomelessCrisis news blitz.  Local media outlets will be reporting and discussing stories about ending homelessness in the nation’s capital all day. The collaborative body of work is cataloged at dchomelesscrisis.press.  

Chris Lewis aspires to be a beauty influencer on YouTube with millions of subscribers. Although there are few beauty gurus who are men of color, Lewis is ready to pioneer a beauty movement with SMYAL’s transitional housing program serving as a stepping stone for his goals.

The 25-year-old was born in Queens, N.Y., and later raised in the D.C. area. Lewis, who identifies as gay, says he was facing “extreme homelessness to the point where I was sleeping out on the street and in parks and sometimes from couch to couch.”

Lewis found housing with the Wanda Alston Foundation, D.C.’s first transitional house for homeless LGBT youth which opened in 2008. After graduating from the program, Lewis moved into SMYAL’s transitional house in November.

SMYAL’s transitional housing program opened in January 2017 in response to D.C.’s 2015 Homeless Youth Census, which states that 43 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT.

The facility can accommodate 12 residents at a time for SMYAL’s 18-month program. Since its opening, 13 residents have been housed.

Residents are referred to the program through social workers, doctors, therapists, school personnel or through another agency. Once referred, potential residents come in for interviews and assessments. If the resident is accepted, they receive a welcome kit with toiletries, sheets and towels. Transportation is paid for and Safeway gift cards are distributed for residents to buy their own groceries and cook their own meals.

Director of Youth Housing Jorge Membreño, a program assistant, a case manager or another member of staff is on site anytime between 8 a.m.-6 p.m. The program offers case management for the development of a personal action plan and weekly check-in meetings. Supportive services are offered including medical care, mental health services and self-care support. Residents also learn skills pertaining to job hunting, apartment hunting, finding programs to get food stamps and more. There are also community outings and LGBT youth networking opportunities.

Membreño says there hasn’t been any major behavioral issues so far in the program.

After residents leave the program staff follows up with them for one year through text, email or a phone call at least once a week.

The annual operating budget is funded completely by the D.C. Department of Human Services.

The program is designed for LGBT residents but Membreño says the program doesn’t screen potential residents based on their sexuality. He trusts that LGBT residents looking for a safe place to express themselves will be drawn to the program because they can safely be themselves. Membreño says many of their residents have recounted stories of staying at shelters and having to hide their gender expression or sexuality to be safe.

According to Membreño, LGBT homeless numbers are similar in D.C. compared to other major cities such as New York City and Chicago. However, Membreño thinks the factors for LGBT homelessness are not widely known to the public.

“The one you hear the most is when a family ostracized someone,” Membreño says. “Something we don’t talk about a lot is parental incarceration, low parental involvement, family homelessness. There are different factors that contribute to LGBT homelessness other than just the ostracization.”

Membreño identifies as straight but LGBT homelessness is close to his heart. He started his career as a social worker for the LGBT community and eventually found himself working in homelessness as a school social worker. He also is a licensed therapist and decided to incorporate the world of therapy and social work together.

“The more and more I got involved with it and the more I worked with LGBTQ-identifying youth I decided to merge the two into two passions I loved working with and then being able to focus my attention within the city to make sure that our youth had access to equitable housing and that D.C. was really paying attention,” Membreño says.

Lewis is also realizing his dreams through SMYAL’s transitional housing program. He cites YouTubers Jackie Aina, Jeffree Star and Manny MUA as inspirations for his career. He also credits a friend who died for getting him interested in makeup.

“I want to be in a space where I can create a studio with all my makeup and really reach out to people who are like me, men of color, who want to become a beauty influencer and create a brand that is all-inclusive for everybody,” Lewis says.

In a place like SMYAL’s traditional housing program Lewis’ goals are encouraged in a way that may not be as accepted in a non-LGBT program.

“Having a place where you can identify with the people you’re with also helps create a level of safety, family and community that you might not find in other residential or transitional living centers,” Membreño says.

For more information on SMYAL’s transitional housing program, visit smyal.org.