The Fair Housing Act Rights and Remedies.pptVIP

The Fair Housing Act: Rights and Remedies West Penn Rural Fair Housing Initiative Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services 10 West Cherry Avenue Washington, PA 15301 The Fair Housing Act Introduction and Purpose Fair Housing Act of 1968 It is the policy of the United States to provide, within Constitutional limitations, for fair housing throughout the United States. - 42 U.S.C. §3601 Fair Housing Act of 1968 The First 5 Protected Classes: Race Color Religion National Origin Sex (Act amended, 1974) Fair Housing Act of 1968 Act amended in 1988 (effective March 13, 1989) to include: Familial Status Handicap Status Familial Status A family in which one or more children under age 18 live with: A parent A person who has legal custody of the child or children or The designee of the parent or legal custodian with the parent or custodian’s permission Also applies to pregnant women and anyone securing legal custody of child under 18 Handicap Status A Person is considered disabled/handicapped under the act if: He or she has a physical or mental disability (including hearing, mobility and vision impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex and mental retardation) that substantially limits one or more major life activities; He or she has a record of such a disability OR He or she is regarded as having such a disability Markets Covered Rental Sales Lending Insurance (All Areas Connected With Residential Housing) Covered Individuals/Entities Owners Managers Homeowner’s Associations Lenders Real Estate Agents Brokers Governments Insurers Developers/Builders Architects Contractors Engineers Landscape Architects All Persons/Entities Involved with Residential Housing Covered Dwellings Private and Subsidized Property/ies Examples: Single Family Dwellings Duplexes Multi-Family Buildings Migrant Housing Temporary Shelters Group Homes Assisted Living Housing Other Residential Housing: “Where I Live” Prohibited Practices Refusal to sell/re