| Abstract: | The Fair Housing Act of 1968 made discrimination against minorities in the sale or rental of housing illegal. Twenty years
later the Act’s coverage was expanded and its enforcement mechanisms strengthened in response to pressure from fair housing
advocates and evidence of continued segregation and discrimination. Segregation indices and fair housing audits provide measures
of the extent and nature of residential segregation and housing discrimination. High levels of residential segregation suggest
that housing discrimination exists, and audits give a direct measure of the incidence of discrimination. To date, housing
audits consistently show that black auditors encounter discriminatory treatment in the housing search process. Whether the
strengthened enforcement mechanisms of the Act will have a substantial impact on housing market discrimination and, in turn,
residential segregation, remains to be seen. |
