Fair Housing

Civil Rights Act of 1866

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 recognized all persons born in the U.S. as citizens, regardless of race or color, and protected the rights of every U.S. citizen to buy, sell, convey, inherit, and possess property, as well as to enter into contracts. In short, it made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race or color, without exception. However, because there was no federal agency in place to enforce the laws, it would take another 100 years before the country saw a real shift in practice.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on race, color, national origin, and religion in programs receiving federal financial assistance. This act set the stage for the Fair Housing Act.

Fair Housing Act of 1968

The federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 began a monumental change in the U.S. On April 11, 1968, fair housing reached a pivotal moment when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. Title VIII of that law, called the Fair Housing Act, prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing and housing-related transactions based on race, color, national origin, and religion . It also created the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) . This agency is charged with enforcing fair housing laws and holding all parties accountable for compliance with these laws and regulations. Individuals who have experienced housing discrimination

can file a complaint with this agency at no cost to themselves.

Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 amended the Fair Housing Act of 1968 to add sex to the list of protected classes. In the years leading up to this time, women endured sexual harassment and discrimination by landlords and sellers that made it difficult for them when obtaining housing.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974

During this time, women continued to lack credit, and lenders considered their salaries to be temporary or unstable. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 (ECOA) backed up the Housing and Community Development Act by requiring lenders to give businesses and consumers equal access to credit. ECOA prohibits discrimination "on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age (provided the applicant has the capacity to contract)." In addition, lenders must offer reasons when rejecting applications, and must respond to all applications within 30 days.

Fair Housing Amendments Act

In 1988 , the Fair Housing Amendments Act provided consumers with remedies if they believed they were victims of discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing. This act also added familial status and disability (both physical and mental) to the existing protected classes. Owners must, when necessary, make reasonable accommodations to the rules, policies, and practices in order to provide a person with a disability access to dwellings.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs, services, and activities provided or made available by public entities. It strengthened the 1988 amendments regarding disabilities. Title II of the act applies to public housing, housing assistance, and housing referrals. HUD is responsible for enforcing Title II.

Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995

The Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 (HOPA) states that communities and facilities that meet certain criteria for providing housing to older persons are legally exempt from familial status discrimination. The housing must have one person who is age 55 or older residing in at least 80% of its occupied units, and the housing provider must demonstrate that the housing is intended for persons 55 and older.