Student Writes Grant Applications to Help Area’s Homeless

Stephanie Encarnation ’24 credits Sacred Heart with preparing her to take on the effort

Sacred Heart University accounting student Stephanie Encarnation ’24 has put exceptional effort into her volunteer grant-writing work for Off The Streets Bridgeport (OTSB), a nonprofit organization that helps the homeless obtain places to live. Gerard Agoglia, managing director of OTSB, estimates that Encarnation spent more than 150 hours preparing, reviewing and redrafting grant applications for the organization since the spring semester started.

Off The Streets Bridgeport serves people in the greater Bridgeport area, providing landlords with security deposits for eligible individuals and families. So far this year, the organization has placed 288 people in housing, according to its website.

Sacred Heart students began the volunteer process at OTSB with an information session on grant writing. Volunteers then conducted their own research on various companies and organizations that offer grants to nonprofits. Each volunteer selected one company or organization and one bank of their choice. Encarnation opted for Stop & Shop and TD Bank.

“Grant writing involves extensive research, such as selecting a potential donor, determining the applicability to a targeted area (i.e. Bridgeport), excellent computer skills for accessing the donor’s website and completing complex grant applications. Stephanie navigated all these processes willingly, patiently and successfully,” said Agoglia. 

Encarnation said her classes at Sacred Heart strengthened her writing ability, which proved helpful when writing the grant applications. Volunteering also provided Encarnation with valuable skills. “I have definitely learned so much from my experience,” she said. “I have a great understanding of the entire grant-writing process after submitting the Stop & Shop grant application and continuing to work on the TD Bank grant.”

Barbara Tarasovich, associate professor and chair of the accounting program, said accounting curriculum focuses on the importance of writing. “We include writing assignments in our accounting classes because we believe a student’s professional development and competitive edge depends on their ability to communicate effectively. It’s just as important as their analytical skills.”

Although Encarnation’s main focus has been local grant opportunities, she also helps OTSB in other ways. She has contacted first selectmen and mayors throughout the greater Bridgeport area to promote the organization, attends monthly zoom meetings and continues to help however she can.

“Stephanie’s grant-writing effort on behalf of OTSB is an exemplary model of the sincere faith, living hope and effective charity that we all strive to achieve,” said Agoglia. “The members of OTSB, and especially the homeless citizens in our community who will be successfully housed due to her dedication and hard work, are deeply and extremely grateful for her commitment to our mission of housing the homeless, one family at a time.”

Tarasovich said the type of volunteer work Encarnation conducted is typical for accounting students. Some students also participate in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program with SHU’s partner, Burroughs Community Center in Bridgeport. Led by professors Danny Pannese and William Anderson, students assist clients who need help preparing their tax returns. “Programs like VITA allow the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology to help the community and give students a rich opportunity to learn outside the classroom,” Tarasovich said.