What Did The Fair Housing Act Do?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The 1968 Act expanded on previous acts and

prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended) handicap and family status

. Title VIII of the Act is also known as the Fair Housing Act (of 1968).

Was the Fair Housing Act successful?

Despite the considerable pressure on Congress to respond the civil unrest, the Civil Rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, and the Kerner Commission’s policy agenda, fair housing legislation

bogged down in Congress

. Fair housing legislation failed to pass in 1966 and 1967.

What does the Fair Housing Act do?

It is

illegal to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing

, including against individuals seeking a mortgage or housing assistance, or in other housing-related activities. The Fair Housing Act prohibits this discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.

What did the Fair Housing Act of 1988 accomplish?

Like most important pieces of Federal legislation, the Fair Housing Act and the 1988 Amendments Act embody a series of careful compromises crafted by members of Congress. … The Act

made it illegal to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing on the grounds of race, color, religion, or national origin

.

How did the Fair Housing Act come about?

The Fair Housing Act was first passed in 1968, shortly after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, and

it prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion and national origin

. Discrimination based on sex was added in 1974.

Which of the following is not covered by the Fair Housing Act?


Race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin

. Although some interest groups have tried to lobby to include sexual orientation and marital status, these aren’t protected classes under the federal law, but are sometimes protected by certain local state fair housing laws.

What is not protected under the Fair Housing Act?

The Fair Housing Act makes it

illegal to harass persons

because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.

Who is protected under the Fair Housing Act?

California fair housing laws prohibit discrimination because

of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability

—just like federal law. In addition, California outlaws discrimination in housing because of a person’s: Source of Income.

Who is responsible for enforcing the Fair Housing Act?


The Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH)

is responsible for enforcing state fair housing laws that make it illegal to discriminate because of a protected characteristic (see “What is Protected”).

How can the Fair Housing Act be improved?

  1. Provide more resources for housing discrimination testing and fair lending practices. …
  2. Assist cities, towns, and villages in meeting Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing goals and obligations. …
  3. Incentivize housing that leads to economic and racial integration.

What does the Fair Housing Act say about emotional support animals?

Any animal that provides a health benefit and is recommended and prescribed by a licensed medical professional is covered by the Fair Housing Act, which means

no one with an ESA can be denied housing because of their animal unless the animal is too big to reasonably live inside the residence

.

What two protected classes were added in 1988?

The protected classes of

handicap and familial status

were added in 1988. The seven protected classes became race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap and familial status.

What were the two provisions of the Fair Housing Act?

The Fair Housing Act (FHA) was enacted “

to provide, within constitutional limitations, for fair housing throughout the United States

.” The original 1968 act prohibited discrimination on the basis of “race, color, religion, or national origin” in the sale or rental of housing, the financing of housing, or the provision …

Why is Fair Housing important?

It seeks

to ensure that nobody is discriminated against in property transactions

on the basis of his or her protected class. The Importance of Fair Housing Act lies in the fact that brokers, sellers, lenders, and insurers cannot adopt discriminatory policies against people in the protected class.

What is housing discrimination examples?

  • Refusing to sell, rent, or lease.
  • Refusing to negotiate for a sale, rental, or lease.
  • Saying that housing or an apartment is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when it is, in fact, available.
  • Denying or withholding housing accommodations.

What are the 7 protected classes?

At the federal level, there are seven classes:

race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and handicap

(referred to as disability in California).

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.