What is the Civil Rights Act of 1968?

The Civil Rights Act of 1968 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, and national origin. The Act, also known as the Fair Housing Act, applies to all states, including Texas. The Act was passed to ensure that people of all races and national origins have the same housing opportunities and rights as everyone else in their community. It forbids any discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, and national origin in terms of the sale, rental, or financing of housing. This extends beyond the buyer or renter to all aspects of the process, including advertising, financing, zoning, evaluation of applications, availability of services, and housing conditions. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 also abolished racial steering, whereby people are steered away from certain neighborhoods or dwellings on the basis of race, and discretionary zoning, which allowed communities to create rules that would limit the types of housing that could be built in a certain area. In Texas, the law is enforced by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. If a person believes that they have been discriminated against, they can file a complaint with the department and have it investigated. If a violation of the Act is found, the person may be able to receive compensation for their losses, such as the cost of any repairs needed due to discrimination or relocation, as well as punitive damages.

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What is the Civil Rights Act of 1968?

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