Final answer:
The 1988 Housing and Community Development Act amendment added 'disability' and 'familial status' as protected classes to help ensure equal housing opportunities and prevent discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1988 Housing and Community Development Act amendment added two important classifications to the list of protected classes to prohibit discrimination in housing. These two new protected classes are disability and familial status. This amendment aimed to ensure fair housing opportunities by prohibiting discrimination based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or whether they have children.
It's crucial to prohibit discrimination in job markets and housing as this supports the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which provides the right to be treated equally regardless of individual attributes, including race, gender, age, and disability, ensuring all groups receive equal protection and civil rights recognition.