The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was established to protect renters and homeowners – regardless of race, sex, or religion – from discrimination by providing equal opportunities those looking to rent or buy a home, get a mortgage, receive housing assistance, or any other housing-related activities.
As a follow-up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the bill for the Fair Housing Act was contentiously debated in the Senate, but with intense pressure from President Lyndon B. Johnson, it was passed quickly by the House of Representatives and Congress mere days after the assassination of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Establishing this act was the final impactful legislative achievement of the civil rights era.
Impact of the Fair Housing Act
In an effort to provide safety from discrimination for more Americans, Congress passed the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, expanding the law to prohibit discrimination based on disabilities or family status. Amendments to the Fair Housing Act brought even more legal support and government awareness for those still experiencing discrimination.
7 Protected Classes under the Fair Housing Act
Although starting as a tool to desegregate neighborhoods, the Fair Housing Act began to engulf other protected classes who were experiencing their own type of discrimination.
There are now seven protected classes under the Fair Housing Act:
- Color
- Familial status
- Race
- National origin
- Disability
- Sex
- Religion
Strides are being made in the United States regarding equal housing opportunities for all. However, there are still certain groups that may be exempt from the Fair Housing Act:
- Single-family homes that are privately rented or sold
- Owner-occupied homes with fewer than four units
- Members-only organizations or private clubs
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is responsible for imposing the Fair Housing Act. If you are a landlord seeking guidance on how to comply with the Fair Housing Act, or if you are a tenant or future homebuyer who’d like to learn more about your rights, please visit HUD.gov.
