In 1968, Congress passed the Fair Housing Act, or Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act. The legislation was designed to end discrimination in the housing market, to ensure that all Americans can buy or rent or secure financing for housing wherever they want, regardless of their race, color, religion or national origin. Eventually the law grew to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex, disability or familial status.
Every year, Americans celebrate the passing of the Act during the month of April. And forty years on, while the legislation remains in place, so does the question of what effect it has had, in ending discrimination, or segregation in housing.
Professor Michael Seng is the co-director of The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center and Fair Housing Legal Clinic. Professor Seng has published extensively on fair housing law.
Music Button: Sad Rockets, "Wrongs of Fall" from the CD Transition (Matador records)