"A good troublemaker" is how Sister Miller is described by Freddie Henry, who has lived in the house on and off, and volunteered there as well. "Sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe in regardless of where everybody else is at," he said.

While Sister Miller and city officials have disagreed at times about the best plan of action, especially when it came to the closing of a sanctuary village last spring, then Mayor Lovely Warren said the city remained committed to helping her find a new building to help more of the homeless population.

"A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and by helping our most vulnerable citizens, a city becomes stronger overall," Warren said. "Sister Grace Miller takes this to heart. She is a fierce advocate for those that need a voice, and by helping better their situations, it improves our city, allowing us to create more jobs, safer neighborhoods and better educational opportunities."

Giving voice to the voiceless is how Sister Miller's House of Mercy came into existence.

Following the civil-rights riots in the city of Rochester in the 1960's, Sister Grace as she is known, then spent a few years traveling around the country, including a stop in Harlem that raised her awareness of the need to help homeless people. She came back to Rochester in the early 1980s with a desire to do more to serve this population. Once she realized that homeless people could be refused at many shelters, Sister Miller knew she found her mission to raise her voice for their needs and find the resources they need. And the House of Mercy of Rochester was born — open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to anyone in need. became involved in urban ministry and came to better understand the needs of the poor in regard to employment and education opportunities.

"My eyes were opened to the real plight of the poor," she said.

She then spent a few years traveling around the country, including a stop in Harlem that raised her awareness of the need to help homeless people. She came back to Rochester in the early 1980s with a desire to do more to serve this population. Once she realized that homeless people could be refused at many shelters, Sister Miller knew she found her mission to raise her voice for their needs and find the resources they need. And the House of Mercy of Rochester was born — open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to anyone in need.

Sister Grace "really gets drawn in to anything that is an impediment, preventing these people from getting services available to them."