Final answer:
Under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, it is generally illegal to refuse to rent to a family because they have children, except in qualified senior living facilities that are exempt under the Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fair Housing Act of 1968, which is also known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968, explicitly banned discrimination in the sale or rental of housing. According to this act, it is illegal for homeowners to refuse to rent to a family because they have children, among other discriminatory practices.
However, there are few exceptions under the Fair Housing Act, such as the Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 (HOPA), which could exempt some senior housing facilities and communities from liability for familial status discrimination if they meet certain criteria. This means that in some qualified senior living establishments that provide housing designed for older persons, homeowners may legally refuse to rent to families with children.