Final answer:
The 1988 amendments to the Fair Housing Act added handicap as a protected class to prevent discrimination in housing. It also provided protections for families with children but did not include economic status.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amendments to the Fair Housing Act in 1988 specifically prohibited discrimination based on handicap. Initially, the Act of 1968 banned discrimination in the sale or rental of housing on other grounds but did not mention disability explicitly until the amendments were passed two decades later.
Other protected classes under the Act include race, gender, national origin, and religion, as set forth in Title VII. However, economic status is not a protected category under the Fair Housing Act. The 1988 amendments expanded protections, making it illegal to discriminate against individuals with disabilities and also provided for families with children, ensuring fair treatment in housing opportunities.