About Rena's Haven

Rena’s Haven was founded in loving memory of Irene Kriticou Williams, better known to all who knew and loved her, as Rena. Rena was the mother and grandmother of some of the founding Board Members. She was a strong, resilient Greek immigrant who built a life for her four children in San Bernardino, California, despite extraordinary barriers.
 

Arriving in the United States in1960, Rena did not speak English and was unable to read or write either in her language or English. She was a single mother of four biracial children and they struggled to overcome the lasting effects of domestic violence, chronic poverty, and profound isolation stemming from a combination of racial tension, lack of education and a language barrier.
 

Nevertheless, Rena embodied strength, resilience, an incredible work ethic driven by her unwavering dedication to her children, integrity, selflessness, generosity in spite of her circumstances, all while maintaining a contagious sense of humor. She was known for showing her love through her amazing culinary skills. She persevered and overcame with dignity. She was empowered by and relied upon her faith in God by listening to the Bible on audio tapes and watching church services on television, while clinging to her national Greek Orthodox religious practices.
 

Although her life was marked by strength and determination, it was also marked by unnecessary suffering. In the wake of her death in March 2025, her family reflected on how different her journey might have been if coordinated, culturally aware, and accessible support systems had existed for single mothers facing domestic violence and poverty. Out of this reflection and listening to God’s voice, Rena’s Haven was birthed in October 2025 to support women and children in her honor.
 

Rena’s Haven exists to ensure that no woman or child navigating domestic violence, abuse, mental health challenges, addiction, poverty, language barriers, or single parenthood must do so alone.