The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings based on which characteristics?

• A. Race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
• B. Age and marital status
• C. Source of income and disability
• D. Language and country of origin

Answer: (A)

Discrimination in housing is illegal when it’s based on protected characteristics identified by the Fair Housing Act. The set of characteristics that the Act prohibits in selling, renting, or financing a dwelling is race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. These categories were chosen to ensure fair access to housing across different groups and to curb bias in housing transactions.

Other options don’t fit because they rely on bases not protected under the federal Act. Age and marital status aren’t protected federal categories. Disability is protected, but the pairing with source of income isn’t correct for the Act as written; source of income isn’t listed as a protected characteristic under the federal FHA. Language isn’t listed as a stand-alone protected characteristic, while national origin is.