Room for Derek and his 'sidekick'
Derek Moore was working as a college professor and making art in Michigan when his marriage ended and he needed a new place to stay. He had an opportunity to move to Phoenix to stay with his cousin, but when that didn’t work out, he found himself staying in motels with his service dog, Oliver.
His situation was exacerbated by a hereditary condition called retinoschisis which causes the retina to split. He has received limited treatment throughout his life, but ultimately there is no cure and his vision has deteriorated since he was a child. That’s why it’s so important that he stays with Oliver. Aside from being Derek’s best friend, he’s his service dog that makes mobility that much easier.
Despite his difficult situation, Derek still made it a priority to connect with a church in his new community. He was using money from his disability check and supplementing with his savings to pay for his motels, but it wasn’t enough.
With his savings dwindling, members of his church connected him with Saint Vincent de Paul, and he was able to get a spot at the Washington St. Shelter, SVdP’s emergency shelter. From there, he moved to De Paul Manor, where Derek receives 3 meals a day, a safe and dedicated bed, hygiene facilities, and case management to help him walk through his rehousing journey.
On top of all that, Derek has also been able to take advantage of SVdP’s Companion Animal Program (CAP).
“I love when they watch out for Oliver,” he said. “When I’m low on things, they’ll make sure that I have enough so Oliver can stay fed and keep in shape.”
CAP provides Derek with resources so that he can care for Oliver, like food, leashes, a dog bed and even an animal clinic that recently opened. And Oliver loves the treats he receives from staff!
He was surprised by the care and generosity that SVdP offered him and Oliver. At DePaul Manor, Derek has access to stable care and housing for himself and Oliver so that they can continue to be together, or as Derek puts it “working together.”
“It’s very accommodating and if I need anything, they’re right there for us,” he said. “That’s the real good thing about it, they have an open heart for all types of God’s creatures.”
As of now, Derek has been working hard, searching for jobs and housing. He has even received some interest for some positions. While his next step is still being decided, his dream is to open an art studio where he can build community with other artists and even teach kids how to make art like him.
While Derek doesn’t know what the next phase of his life will look like yet, he’s confident he’ll get through it knowing that the staff at De Paul Manor are going to be with him every step of the way.
