Final answer:
A prima facie case against a broker for discrimination under the Federal Fair Housing Act can be established when they have failed to show properties based on prohibited discriminatory grounds. Housing discrimination affects quality of life, including employment opportunities, by restricting access to communities with better resources and schools.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Federal Fair Housing Act mandates that it is illegal to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing. If a broker has failed to show available properties to potential clients based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, a prima facie case of discrimination can be established against them. Studies by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) demonstrate that discrimination in the housing market still exists, showing disparities in the treatment of Black, Asian, and Hispanic individuals compared to White individuals.
This discrimination is not just limited to the refusal of service or aggressive rejections, but also includes subtler forms such as showing a lesser number of available properties or enforcing stiffer credit checks. Discrimination in the housing market is connected to employment discrimination because the neighborhood one lives in can affect employment opportunities, especially if the communities with better resources are made less accessible due to discriminatory practices. The impact of housing discrimination extends to quality of education and economic status, highlighting the ongoing challenges in achieving fair housing practices.