When people see his white pick-up truck rolling through their neighborhood, it’s common to hear them yell, “Mr. Roy!” as they wave and smile.

That’s because Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Roy Kramer and his team have helped hundreds of Midlands families find the stability and confidence that living in a safe, clean, affordable home provides.

“We’re not giving people homes.” Kramer is quick to point out that people who move into Habitat homes have been in the program for at least two years.

“Habitat homeowners put in hundreds of hours of community service, take home maintenance classes and financial education classes to help clean up any credit problems they may have,” Kramer says.

Habitat homes are not free. Habitat homeowners pay an affordable mortgage based on their income.

“Instead of paying $800 a month for an apartment they do not own, they pay on average about $400 a month on their home, gaining equity and savings for the future,” Kramer says.

“I paid off my mortgage this year,” Alma Wallace said as she raised her arms in the air in a victory pose.

Wallace became a Habitat homeowner in the late 90’s and finished her last mortgage payment on her birthday this year. “I used to live in an apartment with rats and roaches. I won’t ever forget what Habitat did for me,” Wallace said.

“We used to hear gunshots in our apartment complex all of the time,” another homeowner said. She and her 2 young daughters moved into the Habitat home they helped build a few weeks ago.

“All I thought about over the last few years working through the Habitat program is my girls. I want them to have a happy life,” this proud mother said.

Central SC Habitat for Humanity is doing more than building homes.

“That’s what we’re known for – building homes,” Kramer said.

Now Central SC Habitat for Humanity is also a Neighborhood Revitalization Affiliate and has launched its More than a Home campaign.

That means the Habitat team is going door to door in neighborhoods where they are building and offering to make needed repairs on other homes, too.

“Our goal is to literally change neighborhoods one block at a time,” Kramer says.

Changing neighborhoods means helping communities which include veterans and seniors with everything from building wheelchair ramps, to painting front porches, to helping people fix a roof.

Central SC Habitat for Humanity, the volunteers who work on the projects, and the partners who help finance them, are an example of community in action.

That action has had a tremendous impact in Lexington County.

From working in subdivisions and helping with repairs in the Town of Lexington, to building homes on properties in Gilbert and Leesville, Habitat has been working hand in hand with Lexington County residents for decades.

The Midlands Habitat team is currently in the middle of a multi-year neighborhood revitalization project in Cayce and is looking into partnering with a Lexington Church community on a life-changing project.

“It’s about helping our neighbors,” Kramer says.

Roy Kramer knows a little something about helping others. Upon returning to South Carolina after a church mission trip in 1994, Kramer stepped away from the construction and design firm he started in Camden and took a part time job with Central SC Habitat for Humanity.

At the time Kramer new little about Habitat for Humanity. When he went to his first interview for a job on the Habitat construction team, the director of the nonprofit at the time asked Kramer why he wanted a job that he overqualified for.

Kramer said, “I don’t know. I think I’m supposed to be here.”

25 years later, Kramer has never looked back and is currently taking on one of his biggest challenges as Executive Director.

“Our goal is to build 30 new homes and repair 30 existing homes over the next 3 years,” Kramer says.

To reach this lofty goal, the Midlands affiliate launched More Than a Home, a 9 million-dollar campaign which funds operating costs, capital and endowment needs.

When asked if he is concerned that the Central SC Habitat for Humanity team will fall short, Kramer points to his favorite Bible verse, located at the bottom of every email he sends.

It says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

“And that’s exactly what we’re doing” Kramer says.