Home > West's Encyclopedia of American Law > Fair Housing Act of 1968

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 (FHA) (42U.S.C.A. §§ 3601-3631) is also known as Title VIII of the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT of 1968. Congress passed the act in an effort to impose a comprehensive solution to the problem of unlawful discrimination in housing based on race, color, sex, national origin, or religion. The Fair Housing Act has become a central feature of modern CIVIL RIGHTS enforcement, enabling persons in the protected classes to rent or own residential property in areas that were previously segregated. The DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) is charged with enforcement of the act. It issues regulations and institutes investigations into discriminatory housing practices.

The passage of the Fair Housing Act came after the failure of two earlier federal...