Final answer:
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 became effective on April 11, 1968, aiming to eliminate housing discrimination and promote equal opportunity. Despite its intentions, evidence of ongoing discriminatory practices in housing remains.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 became effective on April 11, 1968, as a part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. This pivotal legislation was enacted to ban discrimination in the sale or rental of housing, thereby aiming to reduce the effects of segregation and promote equal housing opportunities for all Americans, regardless of race, religion, national origin, or color. Over the years, this act has been supplemented with additional laws to reinforce its intentions.
Despite the clear prohibitions on discrimination, the practice of redlining and other discriminatory tactics persisted, leading to significant inequality in access to housing. This issue was highlighted in the 1970s as inner cities bore the brunt of the long-term damage caused by these discriminatory practices. Continued evidence of discrimination in housing has led to fair housing audits and government efforts at various points to strengthen enforcement of the Fair Housing Act's provisions. The Obama administration, for instance, proposed new rules to combat segregation, while later administrations had differing approaches to enforcing and strengthening the legislation.