Final answer:
A performance audit provides information about an organization's progress relative to its plans. In housing discrimination, fair housing audits compare treatment of auditors of different races to reveal inequality. Historically, these audits showed significant disparities in housing opportunities offered to Black and white auditors.
Step-by-step explanation:
An audit that provides information about where an organization is with respect to what was planned is known as a performance audit. In the context of housing discrimination, fair housing audits serve as a form of performance audit. These audits were designed to assess compliance with the Civil Rights Act by revealing racial discrimination in housing opportunities. During such audits, two auditors, one Black and one white, would inquire about the same housing units to see if there was any differential treatment based on race. This methodology has been instrumental in identifying the disparities in housing offers, which historically showed that Black housing seekers were informed about approximately 30% fewer available units than their white counterparts.