In the late 1960s, America was in a state of upheaval. The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, and people were fighting for equality across all walks of life. One of these entitlements was the right to fair living. On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson turned the Fair Housing Act into law. This ruling prohibited discrimination in housing because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was a big victory for the Civil Rights Movement and revolutionized the face of American living forever. In the following post, we will take a closer look at the history of the Fair Housing Act and its effects on American renters.
Civil Rights and Fair Housing
Because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the fight for equality going on across the country the Fair Housing Act was passed. That ruling outlawed discrimination in public places but didn’t cover discrimination in housing, leaving many Americans living in substandard housing conditions.
Recognizing that the federal government had a responsibility to address housing inequality, Senator Edward Brooke of Massachusetts and Representative John Conyers of Michigan supported a proposal that would directly prohibit housing discrimination. On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. The Fair Housing Act was passed by Congress on April 11, 1968, and was turned into law by President Lyndon Johnson on the same day.
The Fair Housing Act addressed housing inequality by making it illegal to discriminate against renters based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also created the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) to end housing discrimination, improve economic opportunities, and build communities that are diverse and welcoming for everyone. FHEO is also in charge of making sure the act is followed.
The Impact of Fair Housing
The impact of Fair Housing Act were fast and widespread. It opened previously segregated neighborhoods to minorities and made it easier for families of all income levels to discover safe and affordable housing. The act has been recognized with reducing poverty and improving educational outcomes for kids from low-income households.
Since it was first passed, the Fair Housing Act has been changed a number of times. The most recent amendment, passed in 1988, expanded the definition of “family” to add unmarried couples and disabled people and strengthened the act’s enforcement provisions.
The Fair Housing Act and You
The Fair Housing Act is one of American history’s most important pieces of legislation. It has helped make a more equal and just society by ensuring everyone can get safe and affordable housing. If you’re a renter in the United States, it’s critical to know your rights under the Fair Housing Act. Some of the rights the Fair Housing Act protects include:
- The right to choose a housing option without discrimination
- The right to live in a safe and decent housing environment
- The right to fair treatment during the housing search process
- The right to not be denied housing based on your income
If you feel like you’ve been discriminated against, you can file a complaint with HUD under the FHEO. You can also get help from a fair housing organization in your locality.
To protect your rights, you must work with landlords and property managers who know and follow fair housing laws. Fair living has been important to Real Property Management Excelled for a long time. Browse our listings online for quality rental homes.
Originally Published on October 15, 2022
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
