local organizations think the number is nearly three times higher. 60-year-old peter regan suffers from bipolar disorder. he has been on the streets most of his life issue >> reporter: we spent this stas night around-- december night around the community camp fire that he shares with others here. >> reporter: what is it like having your own key to your own house? >> it's great. you can lock your stuff up and you know it will be there when you come back >> reporter: how did this tiny community come to exist? its roots go back to 2011. peter and the others live on a lot owned by the green street church of street. it has long provided services, shelter and food to the homeless. -- provided. with rising crime against the homeless and laws criminalising sleeping in public spaces, it was time to do more. >> somebody had been here a good bit needed a safer place to camp so they asked if they could set up a tent behind that. thing? >> storage container >> reporter: what started as one tent quickly became 30 and the sanctuary was born. >> reporter: do you feel like you've been given a gift to be