This 50 block area of LA has been called “the worst social disaster in America.” And perhaps with good reason. The first time I visited my brother in LA, I was shocked by how sprawling the city was. Driving 45 minutes to see a friend who lived, technically, in the same city.

“Is there a downtown?” I asked him. Could there be one in such a spread metropolis?

“You don’t want to see it. Nothing but skyscrapers and tents.”

Metaphorically, and literally, he was being honest. As this video shows, Skid Row is a third world nation sharing a zip code with Nakatomi Plaza.

You can watch the rest of the series here.