Fair housing laws ensure individuals and families attempting to buy, sell, lease or finance a home are treated equally. Fair housing laws protect individuals from discrimination based on their race, color, national origin, religion, familial status, gender and disability. The availability of affordable housing in communities where those individuals and families want to live, however, can severely limit fair housing choice.
Housing is considered affordable when the total cost of housing — including rent/mortgage and utilities — is under 30% of household income.