For much of his adult life, Daniel Escamilla was a hard worker with a passion for hands-on trades. After spending seven years as a supervisor at Starbucks, Daniel discovered a love for maintenance work through espresso machine repair. He later became a maintenance technician at a chemical plant, responsible for keeping complex systems running safely and smoothly. But when he was laid off, everything changed.
“I couldn’t find a job for about six months,” shares Daniel. “I fell into a very deep depression.”
What began as discouragement turned into something far more serious. Daniel says he struggled with alcoholism for months, even years, and found himself in a dark place, unsure how to move forward.
His turning point came when he made the courageous decision to check himself into a rehabilitation facility. There, while working toward recovery, he learned about JVS SoCal’s ApartmentWorks program through the center’s career services team. “Finding this place was a God shot,” says Daniel. “It felt like a miracle.”
At first, Daniel was skeptical. The idea of free training in apartment maintenance seemed too good to be true. But once the program began, his doubts disappeared.
“The first week, we were doing hands-on work; drywall, electrical, plumbing,” he recalls. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m actually doing this and learning.’”
For Daniel, the most powerful part of ApartmentWorks wasn’t just the technical training, it was the fellowship. “Everyone became really close. We all learned from each other. Everyone was good at something, and someone always stepped in to help.”
After years of isolation, that sense of community was life changing.
The support from JVS SoCal’s staff also stood out. Daniel credits the instructors for helping him prepare resumes, practice interviews, and rebuild his confidence. “I’ve never had that kind of support before,” he adds.
Today, Daniel is rebuilding his future with hope, working as a maintenance technician for one of JVS SoCal’s top employer partners in the rental housing industry.
“I never thought I’d go back to school,” he admitted. “I was scared. But this program changed my life.”
If you’re inspired by Daniel‘s story and would like to help someone else achieve their dream, please donate today.