Which act originally prohibited discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, or national origin and was later amended to add protections for disability and family status?

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

Answer: (A)

Broad protections against housing discrimination were expanded by amendments to the Fair Housing Act. The original Fair Housing Act of 1968 barred discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, or national origin. In 1988, those protections were extended to include disability and family status, through the Fair Housing Amendments Act. This makes the amendments the mechanism that adds protections for people with disabilities and for families with children, while the original act established the initial prohibitions. The other laws referenced address disability rights or civil rights in broader contexts, or reflect the original act without the later expansions.