Brick Capital Community Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1990 to address housing shortages in Lee County, North Carolina. The organization emerged from the City of Sanford's urban renewal project in the 1970s, which demolished unsafe housing in a historically African American neighborhood, leaving vacant lots that became the catalyst for affordable housing development. With initial support from a Housing Demonstration (CDBG) grant and community partnerships, Brick Capital has grown into a comprehensive housing and community development organization serving low-income families and vulnerable populations.
Brick Capital offers a full spectrum of housing-related services, including HUD-approved housing counseling with homebuyer education courses and one-on-one counseling, a homeownership program that guides qualified applicants through the entire home purchase process, new affordable housing development, and rental programs across multiple properties. The organization also provides case management services and operates supportive housing specifically designed for people with disabilities and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Their portfolio includes 62 units built between 1995 and 2009, the 40-unit Apple Tree Apartments (1998), the restored W.B. Wicker Campus that housed educational and community services, and listed supportive housing programs like Lee-Harnett Haven (12 units) and Lee-Harnett Haven II (6 units).
What distinguishes Brick Capital is its dual focus on both wealth-building homeownership and supportive housing for vulnerable populations. Unlike transactional lenders, they provide free or low-cost counseling services and develop actual housing stock rather than simply offering financial products. Their 30+ year track record demonstrates sustained community commitment, with documented impact including tax base improvements and partnerships with established institutions like Self-Help Ventures Fund, the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, and Central Carolina Community College.
The primary limitation is geographic scope—services are restricted to Lee County and surrounding counties in North Carolina, making this organization inaccessible to consumers in other regions. Additionally, as a small nonprofit with limited staff, capacity constraints may create waitlists or extended timelines for counseling and homeownership program participation. The website provides minimal detail about specific eligibility requirements, income thresholds, or current availability of programs, which may require direct contact to assess fit.