Final answer:
Familial status under the Federal Fair Housing Act includes families with children under the age of 18, recognizing a range of family structures, which have broadened in concept over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Familial status as defined by the Federal Fair Housing Act as amended in 1988 includes families with children under the age of 18. This means that families with dependent children are protected regardless of the children's ages, as long as at least one child is under 18. A study by Powell in 2010 indicated that personal views on what constitutes a family may vary widely, but legally, a more structured definition is used. For example, the U.S. Census Bureau defines a family as a group of two or more people (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together.
Over time, there has been a significant change in family structures. Extended families may include relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and the rise of unmarried couples, single-parent households, and expanded households has diversified the concept of the family. Children tend to be the key indicator in establishing 'family' status as shown in the findings of the 2010 survey by professors at the University of Indiana.