Final answer:
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 outlaws housing discrimination on several grounds, including race, religion, and disability. Studies show that while direct discrimination is less frequent, subtle forms of discrimination persist, affecting access to resources like good schooling and jobs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fair Housing Act of 1968, a part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibits discrimination in housing related transactions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Under Title VIII of this act, practices such as requiring an extra deposit from a Hispanic tenant, refusing to rent to a gay couple, sellers not selling to Catholics, or refusing to rent to a blind tenant are barred, as they are forms of housing discrimination. Housing discrimination can negatively influence an individual's ability to move into certain communities, impacting access to desirable resources such as good schools and employment opportunities. Studies conducted by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) department and the nonprofit Urban Institute illustrate that while overt housing discrimination (e.g., "door slamming") is decreasing, subtler forms still persist, making them harder to detect and address.