Laws Enforced by Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

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The Federal Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968 and prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, religion, sex, color and national origin.

In 1988, the Act was amended to also prohibit discrimination on the bases of familial status and disability. Under the Fair Housing Act, it is illegal to discriminate in the sale, rental, financing, advertising or operation of housing.

It is also illegal to discriminate in residential lending decisions and to make discriminatory statements in advertising. The law covers both private housing providers and housing providers who receive financial assistance from HUD.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 makes it illegal for recipients of federal financial assistance to discriminate against persons with disabilities.

• FHEO People With Disabilities Website

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal for recipients of federal financial assistance to discriminate against persons on the bases of race, color, or national origin.

Section 109 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 makes it illegal for recipients of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to discriminate against persons on the bases of race, color, national origin and sex.

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act makes it illegal for any public entity to discriminate against persons on the basis of disability in the participation of or the benefits of the entity’s programs.

Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968 requires, to the greatest extent feasible, that recipients of HUD funds (and their contractors and subcontractors) provide jobs and other economic opportunities to low-income persons, particularly public housing resident.

Executive Order 11063 directs HUD and all other executive departments and agencies to take appropriate action to promote the abandonment of discriminatory practices with respect to property or facilities owned or operated by the Federal Government or provided with Federal financial assistance in the sale, leasing, rental, or other disposition of such property or facilities.

Executive Order 12898 requires each Federal agency to conduct its programs, policies, and activities that substantially affect human health or the environment, in a manner that ensures that such programs, policies, and activities do not have the effect of excluding persons (including populations) from participation in, denying persons (including populations) the benefits of, or subjecting persons (including populations) to discrimination under, such programs, policies, and activities, because of their race, color, or national origin.