"It's a place that can either be heaven or hell," Pastor Blue says of LA’s Skid Row, where he’s been living for about a year and a half. His home is his van, which he parks in front of a large tent set up on the sidewalk, and he’s rapidly become an institution in this section of the community—offering a spot of peace amidst the chaos around him.

He was a gracious host the afternoon I spent on Skid Row, but every few blocks, we'd run into someone who needed his help. He was clearly torn between trying to help everyone and giving me the tour he’d promised, but I didn’t mind at all when we’d walk back to get someone set up to charge their phone in his van or help someone gather their things when they needed to move to a different section of the neighborhood. The tour was interesting, but getting a chance to see Blue jump into action was better.

Hollywood, Blue’s neighbor and friend — and from what I saw, also a cook, barber and counselor — is in the process of getting an apartment. Like so many others, he used Blue's phone, which is always charged, as his connection. For the most part Blue is either walking around finding people who have had calls come in on his phone, or he's in the tent, where people can come and sit in relative quiet, grab a bottle of water, a beer, or a sandwich, or find a friendly ear to listen.

Blue is originally from Atlanta and became a pastor after a serious accident involving a friend of his. After a divorce and, separately, a false charge that was eventually dropped, he felt like Atlanta wasn't his place any more. A friend told him to come out to LA, which he did, though it took a year before he found his community on Skid Row. Now he plans to call it home for the foreseeable future. Pastor Blue, thank you for the hospitality, and thanks for all you do!