With the holiday approaching last week, three men from Mexico set out to find a Christmas tree for their homeless camp among the twisting ramps of the Spaghetti Bowl, said one of the men, who wouldn't give his name.

They set out down Bonanza Road and started checking trash bins. It didn't take long to find a 5-foot-tall fir tree that they hauled back to camp and stood up using metal bars and wire.

The other homeless residents of the camp brightened up when they saw the tree, the man said.

"Even though we're on the street, at least we have some pride," he said.

The tree also helped ease the pain of spending their first Christmas away from their families in Mexico, he said.

"Sometimes, you think about your mom, and it hurts," the man said. "But that's how it is."

The men wrapped a bright green ribbon around the tree and talked of finding more decorations. They talked of finding work, too, as they huddled around their makeshift tent of blankets and plastic Friday.

A few steps away, the tree lay on its side atop the rocky terrain while a small U.S. flag atop their shelter flapped in the stiff wind.