Gwen Clifton

My journey into this work is deeply rooted in my own story. When I was a single parent with a young daughter, she came to me saying she was hungry. I looked in the refrigerator and had only a can of Juicy Juice and a gallon of water. In the freezer, just a pack of smoked meat and two ice trays. In the cabinet, 3 cans of mixed vegetables. I fell to the floor in total despair. My daughter told me 'Mommy, I'm not hungry anymore. I love you, big one. It's okay.' Then my doorbell rang after I said a quick prayer, and I saw bags of food on my front stoop. My cousin-in-law had brought so much food I had to put it on the countertop. At that moment, I made a promise to God that if this situation ever turned around for me, I would go and help somebody else. That's why I started Safeway Homes of Greater Rochester. My husband encouraged me to open my own shelter since I always talked about it and was always at the shelters. I told my oldest daughter, who lived in Houston, Texas at the time, that I was trying to buy a house to start off with. She was searching for investment property herself and said 'Mom, I'll buy your first house.' She did that, returned to Rochester, and partnered with me in the business. Today, we own 4 properties providing transitional housing for over 25 families, and we plan on opening more soon. I also mentor other women who want to open facilities, whether for senior citizens, nursing facilities, or do the same thing I have done.