Which act expanded protections against housing discrimination to cover disability or family status and increased enforcement powers?

• A. Civil Rights Act of 1964
• B. Fair Housing Act of 1968
• C. Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988
• D. Americans with Disabilities Act

Answer: (C)

A housing protections expansion and stronger enforcement come from the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. This act added disability and familial status as protected classes, expanding who is shielded from housing discrimination beyond what the original Fair Housing Act covered. It also strengthens enforcement by giving HUD greater authority to investigate and address violations, and by allowing private individuals to pursue civil actions in federal court, which increases the potential remedies and penalties for discrimination. Additionally, it established accessibility requirements for certain multifamily housing, making actual housing more accessible to people with disabilities. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 laid groundwork for anti‑discrimination more broadly but didn’t specifically add disability or family status to housing protections, and the Americans with Disabilities Act focuses on disability rights in employment and public accommodations, not primarily on housing protections and enforcement.