Though Flatbush native Peter Ferguson went through some tough times in his life, he’s back on his feet thanks to the help of a local nonprofit organization.

Ferguson, who is formerly incarcerated, was introduced to the Association of Community Employment (ACE) Programs for the Homeless, a group that empowers people who have histories of homelessness, incarceration and addiction to establish economic independence through job training, work experience and a support network.

“When you have that kind of past and records, it’s hard to get back into society,” Ferguson said. “ACE is one of the places that helped me get back into society the right way.”

Through ACE, Ferguson said he learned to never quit in life.

“There’s a lot of tribulations you’re going to face in life, you just can’t give up,” he said. “You just have to keep pushing, no matter how impossible it looks.”

As an ACE worker who provides cleaning services in Queens, Ferguson said it feels good to be cleaning up neighborhoods.

“The more compliments you get, the more it motivates you,” he said. “People appreciate it very much.”

Ferguson, who sports a mask while working, said it’s still a little scary to be working through the COVID-19 pandemic, but he counts his blessings that he’s safe and insists that the work needs to be done.

“Somebody has to do something, we can’t sit by,” he said. “We have to stand up and fight and push. It has to be done.”