Wish I could help more than I have so far but I can't. Sure can't with money and I suggested some things to him that he has not done.
I've been there, and not that long ago. For us, the under (or wrongly for this job market) educated 50 something males who worked with their bodies all their lives, this is the future. Nobody will hire you when you get fired, laid off, downsized, whatever the fuck it is when you turn 50. We are so broke down, but not enough to get SS, or the process takes so freaking long, that you are liable to end up here. I'm lucky, I care give and will do that for a long time probably, but that is just my luck.
If he can't get out of Sac to Alb, he should try to find a way up to Grass Valley. The shelter is much much better there and things are different. UTAH"S place. At least I can be in contact with him up here. Got quite a few rules, but they have great job outreach and are not full of hundreds of people like Loaves And Fishes is.