What is Fair Housing?
Fair Housing is your right to live where you choose and enjoy where you live, free from illegal discrimination.
Fair Housing Act
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act, was passed to address discrimination in the housing market. The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability in a variety of housing and housing-related activities. This includes the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, along with protections against other discriminatory practices.
Who is Protected?
Everyone in the U.S. is protected under federal fair housing laws. Some States (such as Illinois) and local regions (such as Cook County) have additional protections beyond what is required federally. Below, you’ll see a list of protections and what jurisdiction they fall under.
| Protected Class | Federal Fair Housing Act | Illinois Human Rights Act | Cook County Human Rights Ordinance | Chicago Fair Housing Ordinance |
| Race | x | x | x | x |
| Color | x | x | x | x |
| Religion | x | x | x | x |
| National Origin | x | x | x | x |
| Sex (including sexual harassment) | x | x | x | x |
| Familial Status (children) | x | x | x | x |
| Disability | x | x | x | x |
| Ancestry | x | x | x | |
| Age | x | x | x | |
| Marital Status | x | x | x | |
| Military/Veteran Status | x | x | x | |
| Sexual Orientation | x | x | x | |
| Unfavorable Military Discharge | x | x | x | |
| Order of Protection Status (Domestic Violence) | x | |||
| Source of Income | x | x | x | |
| Gender Identity | x | x | ||
| Housing Status | x | |||
| Arrest Record | x | |||
| Pregnancy Status | x | |||
| Immigration Status | x | |||
| Reproductive Health Decisions | x |
Signs of Housing Discrimination
