Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents of legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and disability. The intent of this collection is to provide information related to the disability-related aspects of the law. While some material is provided on other aspects of the law, the focus is on disability. Accessing the Fair Housing Act Collection

Federal Government Documents

• Individual Rights Under the Fair Housing Act - This page provides an overview of the Department of Housing and Urban Developemnt's role in enforcing the FHA as well as a listing of recent changes to the law. The page also includes a list of frequently asked questions about individual rights under the law.
• Fair Housing Complaint Form - Federal law prohibits housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability. If you have been trying to buy or rent a home or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint.
• Fair Housing Act Summary - This brief document from the U.S. Department of Justice contains an overview of each section of the Fair Housing Act.
• Fair Housing Act - This document provides the full text of the Fair Housing Act (title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968).
• Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines - This document presents guidelines adopted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide builders and developers with technical guidance on how to comply with the specific accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988.
• Exploring the Opportunities: Affordable, Accessible, and Integrated Housing 101 - Part Two - Steve Gold, Jay Klein and Brenda Stinebuck on February 4, 2004
• Exploring the Opportunities: Affordable, Accessible, and Integrated Housing 101 presented by Steve Gold and Jay Klein on October 30, 2003
• Follow-Up: Using State Housing Agencies to Obtain Affordable, Accessible, Integrated Housing--Answering Your Questions presented by Steve Gold on April 30, 2003
• Using State Housing Agencies to Obtain Affordable, Accessible, Integrated Housing presented by Steve Gold on March 26, 2003

State Fair Housing Laws

Each state write rules for the implementation of the Fair Housing Act. The accessibility standards they use and how they implement them vary. The federal regulations represent the minimum standards. In many cases the states rules are more strict. This section of the FHA collection provides links to state-specific rules related to the FHA.

• Michigan

Documents from Private Organizations

Fact Sheet on Accessible, Adaptable, and Universal Design - This document, provided by the Center for Universal Design, formerly the Center for Accessible Housing , presents the meaning and purposes of the terms Accessible, Adaptable, and Universal.

Resouce Site Links

HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity - HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity administers federal laws and establishes national policies that ensure all Americans have equal access to the housing of their choice. Particular activities carried out by the Office include implementing and enforcing the Fair Housing Act and other civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968.

Fair Housing Accessibility First - Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST is a new initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designed to promote compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements. The program consists of a comprehensive training curriculum, as well as a toll-free information line and website designed to provide technical guidance to the public. 

Housing Section of DisabilityInfo.gov - The DisabilityInfo.gov site includes a section devoted to accessible housing. The site includes general information, accessibility materials, options for accessible housing links to regulations and laws, and information on individual rights.

Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities: Testing Guidance for Practitioners