Sadly, your friend will probably never work in tech again, and will likely never have a career oriented job again. Unemployed 50+ men are disposable. He needs to come to terms with that and make alternate arrangements. He'll probably need to readjust his expectations.  BTW, I say that as someone in tech who is closer to 50 than to 30 and I fully expect to face the same situation in my future. It sucks, but when the time comes you man-up and soldier on.