By Jimmie Davis, Jr.
When Air Force Veteran Lonnie Allison, 68, encountered economic hardship and mental anguish from unemployment, drugs and being homeless – he sent out a distress signal, but it wasn’t his squadron that came to deliver him from a dismal life – it was CWT.
The Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program at the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center in Miami, Florida has become a life saving affair for scores of Veterans who’ve faced difficulties after transitioning back to civilian life.
“I’m currently assigned to the house keeping department and this employment gives me a real sense of purpose,” said Allison during one of his required daily breaks at the Miami VA. “CWT is helping me to get my life back on track.”
Participants of the program receive a bi-weekly stipend and are paid according to Florida’s Minimum Wage – effective September 30th 2023 the wage increased to $12.00 per hour.
As a recipient of wraparound services from the VA he’s entitled to a housing subsidy in the form of a HUD/VASH voucher (the equivalent to Section 8) where he has his own apartment and is very grateful that he no longer has to sleep outside on cardboard boxes.
“I have the key to open my own door,” he said. “Thanks to CWT I’m living life on life’s own terms.”
The former computer technician hopes to utilize CWT as a springboard to obtain permanent employment at the VA and has completed the application process and he’s just waiting to get hired on a permanent basis.
CWT is an accredited Vocational Rehabilitation Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs that’s being offered at every VA hospital and according to Marine Veteran Omar Martinez, 50, Vocational Rehabilitation Section Chief – CWT has been around since post World War II.
Martinez knows all too well that Veterans under his tutelage are faced with dire employment barriers because of a mental health condition or a physical disability which severely limits them in obtaining or maintaining employment.
He says the criterion for CWT is unemployment and a sincere desire to return to work.
“CWT is designed to assist Veterans reintegrate into the workforce,” said Martinez. “We help our Veterans find employment in the community.”
Air Force Veteran Charles Brantley, 67, Duplication Equipment Operator for the Miami VA is the perfect example of what CWT epitomizes because he started out in CWT with the Medical Media Department 23-years ago.
With an outstanding career over two decades Brantley candidly speaks about his tribulations with illicit drugs, being an indigent, unemployment and why he signed up with CWT.
He says it all started out after he became homeless and was staying at the Salvation Army.
“I saw a fellow Veteran one day and he was clean and sober,” said Brantley. “I was told about CWT and I made it a point to enroll in the program.”
Brantley says he was tired of the drug lifestyle and that it was very important for him to get his life in order because of his three sons.
Things have changed dramatically over the duration of years and he has to stay clean and hold on to his job.
“There are a lot of negative things in life,” he said. “I use negativity as fuel to keep going.”
Although CWT participants are issued badges and uniforms for various departments such as housekeeping, engineering, and logistics they are not employees – they are classified as patients.
Additionally, another perk of CWT is that it’s in a non-taxable bracket where no taxes are taken out of the CWT workers check.
Decorated Army Veteran Lazaro E. Street, 53, Chief Supply Chain Officer for the Miami VA concurs that sometimes it’s very hard to differentiate CWT workers from VA employees because of the uniforms, their work ethic and the ability to perform their duties.
“Sometimes people get them confused, because they do such a wonderful job” said Street. “They aren’t employees – they are patients.”
He acknowledges that the CWT workers in Logistics learn very valuable skills in life that can be utilized for the VA or out in the community.
Furthermore, he understands how rewarding the relationship has become for CWT workers and the hospital in general.
The CWT program has become a pipeline for employment at the VA, and currently there are twenty-one CWT workers in Logistics.
“This is a mutual benefit for both parties,” Street said. “This is absolutely a beneficial program.”
CWT is also therapeutic because it alleviates the stress that may come with a 9 to 5 job.
The workload varies from each department therefore the workers have the prime opportunity to attend to their mental, physical, spiritual and recreational health appointments.
Many Veterans attend group therapy and have legal issues and this is another component of where CWT is to be commended.
Army Veteran Clarence Office, Jr., 66, Peer Support Specialist for the Miami VA started out in CWT as a Supply Chain Technician with Logistics.
Office also has a history of drug usage and homelessness which made him a viable candidate for CWT.
What’s amazing is he’s a Peer Support Specialist where he counsels and administers group meetings for patients in the residential programs and Outpatient Substance Abuse Center (OSAC).
Moreover, he works with the Veterans Justice Program where he assists Veterans in the criminal justice system in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
“CWT kept me focused on my recovery,” said Office. “It grounded me in my recovery process and encouraged me to reach for higher education.
This is astonishing because Office has obtained three degrees from Barry University which includes a Masters Degree in Public Administration.
His pay scale is classified as a GS-9/6 which equates to roughly around $73,000 annually.
“I had a lot of help on the way,” said Office. “I was always encouraged by Chief Martinez, Dr. Giovanna Delgado and Dr. Spencer Eth.”
Allison, Brantley and Office are only a few illustrations of how prominent CWT has become and it’s this type of track record that justifies to the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs to secure more funding for CWT so more Veterans can participate in this life saving program.
Clearly these young men have a very different level of respect and admiration for themselves, the VA, their family and fellow comrades.
It’s this type of leadership, enthusiasm, commitment and fortitude that quantifies CWT as being a catalyst for creating careers.
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