What are the protected classes under Fair Housing Law?

In Illinois, the Fair Housing Act protects citizens from discrimination in housing on the basis of certain characteristics. These characteristics are known as protected classes, and they include race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. By law, all housing providers must ensure that these protected classes are not discriminated against when renting, selling, or financing housing. This means that people cannot be denied housing, or treated differently than other applicants, simply because they are part of a protected class. In addition, the law bans discrimination in housing-related activities such as advertising, providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities, and making decisions about mortgaging, insurance, zoning, and land use. It is important to note that the Fair Housing Law also covers other classes that are not necessarily protected in other areas. For example, housing providers in Illinois must not discriminate on the basis of age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, and source of income. In Illinois, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for enforcing Fair Housing Law. This means that citizens in the state are able to file a complaint with the department if they believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of a protected class. Complaints can be filed both online and in-person, and the department investigates all claims of discrimination.

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What are the protected classes under Fair Housing Law?

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