Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Stops Funding Therapeutic Farm

April 13, 2010 - The Archi's Acres Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training Program (VSAT) is a farm outside of San Diego, California. Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pulled their funding from the farm which was used to pay veteran-worker's wages. Not just a farm, the VSAT also includes a compensated work therapy (CWT) program which trains veterans how to farm using a bio-hydroponics technique. 

Many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from PTSD find "normal" work environments exacerbate their PTSD symptoms. Loud noises, heat, and rushed environments tend to trigger strong and unwanted memories. Veterans praise working at the VSAT for lowering both their anxiety and the frequency of mood swings as well as helping them to achieve more peaceful sleep. The VA Healthcare system in San Diego has been referring veterans suffering from PTSD to the VSAT for both:

• The peaceful therapeutic environment; and
• Training and employment opportunities.

 The VA began paying veterans hourly wages for 40 hours a week through their funding of Archi's Acres. Eight months ago the VA told Archi's Acres they would need to reimburse the VA for 50% of the amount paid. Last month the veteran-owners of Archi's Acres were told the VA's "fund control point" was not being used correctly. As a result, Archi's Acres would be responsible for paying 100% of the veteran's weekly pay.

Archi's Acres cannot afford to sustain the $16,000 per month required to keep every current veteran on staff. Archi's Acres will have no choice but to put out veterans who, because of various mental health issues, have fought against:

• Chronic unemployment;
• Incarceration;
• Homelessness; and
• Substance abuse.

 The VA pulled its funding from the program because VA funds for CWT programs cannot be used to pay salaries; those funds are only to be used for training purposes. Despite Archi's Acres training veterans, the VA cannot finance the salaries of a commercial business.

The VSAT's environment seems to have a very calming and positive effect on its veterans workers. The programs has given many veterans hope where they had none before and hopefully the VA will be able to form a new contract with Archi's Acres so both organizations can get back to their stated focus: helping veterans.