Every night throughout Central Florida, there are countless men, women and children sleeping in their cars. With nowhere to go, their vehicles provide the last bit of shelter they have as they try to turn their lives around.

Of course, sleeping in a car can present a tremendous amount of danger and is often just a step closer to living on the streets.

That was the case for Patrick Arrington, who arrived at Rescue Outreach Mission in January. Patrick had spent a lifetime as an electrician, focused on retail properties. When COVID hit, those jobs – and his career – disappeared.

“This is the first time I’ve experienced homelessness because I’ve always had more money than I needed,” he says. “That got me in trouble.”

Patrick was sleeping in his car in Lake Mary when law enforcement checked his tags and found he had a suspended license, caused by missing car insurance payments. He was taken to jail, where he spent 22 days before pleading guilty to a 2nd-degree misdemeanor and was given time served.

While in jail, he missed two car payments, causing his car to be repossessed and leaving him with nowhere to go. One of the jail guards suggested he come to Rescue Outreach Mission.

“Like Patrick, too often, people experience homelessness after a series of events that just continue to dig their hole deeper and deeper until they just don’t have any other solution,” says Chris Ham, executive director, Rescue Outreach Mission.

The past few months have been extremely difficult for Patrick, who, at 58, thought he had “seen it all.”

“All the people you think you banked time with over your lives all disappear when you are homeless,” Patrick says. “I’m in isolation mode, just trying to survive right now.”

He viewed his experience at Rescue Outreach Mission as a learning experience.

“Everyone is here, and by that I mean every nationality, every age group, every social setting is staying here,” Patrick says. “And the staff here is amazing.”

Since coming to Rescue Outreach Mission, he found a job with The Father’s Table and is actively looking to move into an apartment near his job.

“They took me in and gave me a job – it’s truly a Godsend,” Patrick says. “I’ll be at The Father’s Table until I’m 114. It’s my life, my salvation.”

For the other guests and for people who might be experiencing homelessness, Patrick’s advice is to not give up.

“I seriously thought about suicide because of the lack of control I have over my life, but no matter how bleak it is, you just can’t give up,” Patrick says. “I now have a smile on my face, finding love again and listening to music again, which brings me great peace and solitude.”