Cristo Hinojosa, 55, likes to help other people less fortunate. He volunteers at an HIV support group, since his own partner died of AIDS. He wants to learn to train service dogs, like his own Linda Bella, who monitors his epilepsy. He jumped to the assistance of an older man on the street being assaulted, and ended up with a broken nose, a black eye and a concussion last month in Hillcrest. He thinks it was the same individuals who came back a few weeks later and beat him up while he was sleeping, leaving him needing stitches on his face and bruised ribs.

Cristo waits for nightfall in the shelter of a church passageway.

Raised by his grandmother after both parents fled parenting responsibilities, he credits her for keeping him from falling into a drug-smuggling crowd living all around them at an early age. Born with dyslexia, he was always put into special ed classes. He spent a few years in Mexico after his grandmother died, then returned to San Diego in 2000, working odd jobs while struggling with health issues, including HIV. He has limited mobility because of vascular necrosis and rheumatoid arthritis, exacerbated by sleeping on the street. Right now he has trouble being alone, fearing his attackers will be back. Even though he is on a few waiting lists for housing, he said he’s aware there are even waiting lists for SRO hotels downtown. In the meantime, he’s glad to be alive, a testament to survival.

Cristo and Bella have a meal at a church downtown.

“We are all walking miracles,” he said.