The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in the selling, renting or marketing of housing that is funded by or through the use of federally protected funds.
The Fair Housing Act 1968 enshrined in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a fundamental foundational law the United States of America against discrimination. This historic law makes it prohibited in most states for any housing provider, including landlords, real estate professionals, and mortgage lenders, from discriminating against anyone based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, disability or marital status. Accommodation of these rights is important for housing providers and tenants as it determines the ways in which they would be able to seek equal opportunities in the housing market.
There are many forms of discrimination in housing even today as the law mentioned in the Fair Housing Act. It is important in this light to understand how discrimination is warded off or effected by reading and comprehending this legislation. The Knowledge that communities possess their rights and obligations under the FHW will enable them to advocate for themselves and other such a way as to foster equality in housing. This article seeks to describe the Fair Housing Act in a systematic way: traces its history to its present status, explains its main provisions and practical concerns as an enforcement tool of the civil rights of people in choosing housing units and living environments.
The Fair Housing Act also includes a provision about assault or coercion based on the protected class. This basically means that a landlord or any neighbour or other related parties involved in housing should not in any way interfere or threaten or use force on any one in the basis of race color, religion, sex, national origin, or physical handicap or family status. These are actions like making a comment of an offending nature, failing to perform a repair or make a necessary fix, or deliberately failing to provide a service while knowing that the person belongs to a protected classification.
With regard to the case of the Fair Housing Act, the organization that is responsible for implementing its provisions is the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development- HUD. If a person feels has been discriminated against as prohibited by the FHE, for a complaint can be directed to the HUD. More specifically, organizations like HUD will launch an investigation into the complaint provided and escalate to the relevant legal actions as per the evidence of discrimination. This could consist of an award of money, order in specific cases, or other forms to combat the discrimination.
In sum, the Fair Housing Act remains one of the pivotal pieces of legislation that contribute towards the protection of the basic right of Americans to equal opportunities in the matter of housing. In this respect, through banning discrimination and supporting the fair housing, the law helps to foster equal and integrated societies across the country in which people may choose the place where they want to live. It is necessary to get familiar with the provisions of the Fair Housing Act and understand what rights and freedoms are guaranteed, as well as recognize theactions that are prohibited to landlords and tenants, as well as organizations that provide housing services, in order to create the environment for fair and discrimination-free housing.
Therefore, The Fair Housing Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation put in place to make it unlawful to discriminate in the provision of housing on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and the right to family status. In exercising one’s rights, persons can adequately seek to show why this act is crucial in facilitating arguments that will help call for equity in the provision of housing opportunities. Thus, the importance of raising awareness of the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords occasioned by the FH Act cannot be overemphasized to ensure inclusive housing in diverse communities. Below are some important tips and ways on how we can ensure that we conform to the Essential Elements of the Act and support what is known as fair housing:
