A section of homes in West Columbia is scheduled for some improvements.

Representatives from Central Carolina Habitat for Humanity met with members of the community at the Happy Town/ Sugar Town Fair, which took place on Dec. 9 at the Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center on Batchelor Street.

“Fairs allow us to bring programs and resources to community members that they may not necessarily be aware of,” Michael Chappell, Habitat’s homeowner services coordinator, explained. “While doing so, we build trusting and lasting relationships with the sole purpose of repairing, restoring, and revitalizing neighborhoods one block at a time.”

Mary Louise Resch, Habitat’s director of philanthropy, said the nonprofit plans to begin work in the spring to address needs in the community. And the interest is there.

“Over 40 people attended the fair,” she reported. “Several pre-applications were taken and we had four meetings [the week of Dec. 13].

The Happy Town/Sugar Town section of the city is in West Columbia City Council District 5, represented on council by Mickey Pringle. He was at the fair and said he supports the effort.

“There are certainly needs in this community,” Pringle said. “There is an elderly woman in the neighborhood who lost part of her leg to amputation. She has not been able to get a prosthetic. She cannot leave her home and she needs a ramp for her wheelchair.”

The councilman said another elderly woman in the neighborhood is legally blind and she is not able to make needed repairs to her home.

There are, of course, requirements to receive aid from Habitat. Recipients must be homeowners. They must have a need for exterior repairs. They must reside in the home. They must be current on their mortgage and taxes, and they must cover 10 percent of the cost to do the work.

The types of repairs Habitat helps with include roofing, ramps, gutters, window and door replacement, siding, painting, and power washing.

Seven Habitat community partners were present at the fair, including Security Federal Bank, South Carolina Legal Service, the relief organization SBP, Midlands Technical College, The Free Medical Clinic, and PASOs, a nonprofit that looks to strengthen Latino communities.

West Columbia Police Chief Marion Boyce came as well. He said he was impressed.

“Anytime you can get businesses and organizations out to meet with the members of the community, that’s very positive,” Boyce said.