Providential Credit Care Management Inc., a Smithfield-based nonprofit that assists low-income and homeless individuals and families, will hold a barbecue dinner fundraiser on Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. at Main Street Baptist Church.

According to an annual report by the Southeastern Virginia Homeless Coalition, which includes more than 40 member agencies across six Hampton Roads jurisdictions, there were just under 70 homeless individuals identified across Isle of Wight and Southampton counties and the cities of Suffolk and Franklin as of 2023.

Isle of Wight, unlike Franklin and Suffolk, doesn’t have its own housing authority. So PCCMI has become a one-stop shop for families in need of temporary shelter, financial literacy training, credit repair and help with first-time homeownership.

PCCMI, which began in 2001, “has never stopped working to help families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness,” said PCCMI CEO Barbara Wiggins. “Our agency desperately needs your support in helping us as calls come in to help women with children, women and men on an emergency basis to be able to give temporary shelter.”

Wiggins’ organization advises individuals and families in crisis to call the homeless crisis hotline at 757-587-4202, which will result in their name and information being entered into a database.

“You are supposed to receive a call offering assistance” but “there is no immediate guarantee that help will come as soon as your information is entered into the database,” Wiggins said.

That’s where PCCMI comes in.

Currently, PCCMI’s only option for temporary housing has been the Carrollton Econolodge. In September, Wiggins began working with the mother of two children, ages 3 and 9 months.

“She was housed at the Econolodge until PCCMI was able to assist her with applying for housing in one of our subsidized apartments,” Wiggins said. “It took us about five weeks before we were able to help with permanent housing and household furnishings.”

Wiggins said she’s working with another woman who’s employed but without a place to stay.

“We have been given hope that she is on a list to receive permanent shelter soon,” Wiggins said.

The barbecue dinner consists of barbecued pork, a roll, coleslaw, baked beans, a dessert and water or soda. People can also donate without buying a dinner by making a check payable to PCCMI and mailing it to P.O. Box 127, Smithfield, VA 23431.

PCCMI is a registered 501c3 nonprofit assigned employee identification number 542030822.

Wiggins can be reached at 757-356-0591.