Fair Housing
National Policy

On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act into law. The 1968 Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, and national origin. In 1974, the Act was amended to prohibit sex discrimination. In 1988, Congress expanded the scope of the Act to include persons with disabilities and families with children.

As of 1995, there are seven groups protected by the Fair Housing Act. The Act makes it illegal for a person on the basis of

• RACE
• SEX
• COLOR
• RELIGION
• NATIONAL ORIGIN
• PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY
• FAMILIAL STATUS

• Make, print, publish or post statements or advertisements that a house or an apartment is PREFERRED for or limited to persons of a certain race, color, sex, disability, etc.
• Represent a house or apartment is not available even though it is available.
• Discriminate in the terms and conditions for renting a home or apartment.
• Persuade or attempt to persuade people, for profit, to rent their homes or apartments by representing that minority groups are moving into the area (this is called BLOCKBUSTING).
• Refuse to sell or rent or to negotiate for the sale or rental of a house or an apartment or otherwise to make housing unavailable.
• Deny or make different terms for home loans by commercial lenders (i.e. banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies).
• Deny anyone the use of real estate services, such as a broker or multiple listing service.
• Coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with anyone who exercises or encourages others to exercise rights granted by the Fair Housing Act.