EOTO - The Fair Housing Act of 1968

 The Fair Housing Act of 1968

    Prior to The Fair Housing Act of 1968, African Americans, in addition to many other minority groups, were being denied basic housing rights. These denials resulted in difficulty finding housing in decent, let alone desirable locations. Minority groups struggled when it came to buying and renting homes. Landlords and sellers would raise prices, set different terms of agreement, use different qualification criteria, or simply refuse to allow these people to live in the available houses due to things such as race, sex, or religion. 

    Prior to the passing of The Fair Housing Act of 1968, two previous versions of this law were rejected by Congress. The rejection of the two prior versions lead people to believe that a third try at passing the law would be an incredibly long shot. After the assignation of MLK things really took a turn. On April 11, 1968 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as The Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibited the discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, and family status. This was the third major Civil Rights Act passed during the 60's, signifying great advancements on the American front in terms of racial equality. The Fair Housing Act was passed with the hopes of creating equality when it comes to the ability to purchase and rent homes. This also was enacted in order to integrate and diversify housing communities, developments, and residential facilities. 

    The act covers most housing structures and types. The only exempt possibilities are owner occupied buildings with less than four units, single family homes sold or rented by an owner without an agent, and housing operated by religious organizations or private clubs that limit occupancy to solely members. Regardless of the exemptions, the act provided security to minority groups ensuring that if they were financially capable and housing was available, they would be able to obtain it without discrimination. 

    The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibited many forms of discrimination in regards to buying and renting homes. These prohibitions included things such as refusing to rent to a certain kind of person, setting different terms and conditions based up the tenant or buyer, imposing varying prices due to buyer/renter, using a different set of qualifications for certain people, discouraging a purchase due personal characteristics, and denying a mortgage due to things such as race, sex, or religion. By prohibiting these forms of discrimination it again granted minorities the ability to live in desirable locations with sensible amenities. 

    Even today, there is discrepancies in certain neighborhoods, and even homeownership as a whole between minority groups and whites in America. African American homeownership is significantly lower than that of white people. Just 47% of African Americans own their homes, whereas 75% of white people own their homes. Minorities tend to live in less desirable housing communities, with limited access to luxury amenities. According to the National Housing Conference, 64% of people receiving housing assistance are non-white. So while this Act has made a tremendous impact on minorities, and African Americans in particular, there is still a ways to go.