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I agree that Dad has a tough row to hoe, but I've seen a case or two like this -- I live near Silicon Valley, so believe me I have. His identity is tied up in being an in-demand techie who draws big bucks and can support a family all by himself. If he takes any other job, especially for low pay -- then who is he? Certainly a lesser being, by the standards he judges himself by. So he won't do it. He keeps looking just for those high-pay jobs that will validate him.
I've talked to people who've gone through all their savings because they were too invested in being The Software Marketing Exect or the Senior Tech Writer or the Product Manager to bow to mere survival and do the necessary to get some money coming in. It's not like they're evil people, or even selfish. They've made their former job status and income into their identity, and they won't leave it. Eventually, if they can't get back in the game, they have to leave it when the money runs out and the house is sold. The sitting-around-in-his-underwear thing is a particularly bad sign. It means he's stuck. Does the employment department in your area have job clubs for professionals? Maybe you could get him to go. Job clubs are motivations and job-seeking skills programs run by job-seekers that work almost like 12-step programs: lots of mutual support and reality checks, lots of lead sharing, lots of companionship. Might jar him out of his slump and get him to consider seeking other types of work. Because he'll find people just like himself who've done that and are willing to talk about it.
I don't know what to tell you to do. If you were in your third year, I'd say stay in. But first year, I dunno. If you think you can make enough money to make a difference, maybe so. But a McJob is only going to net 9-10K a year at best. Will that help?
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