Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a major opinion on housing discrimination. It determined that violations of the federal 1968 Fair Housing Act could occur even if intent to discriminate is not shown.
Meanwhile, the federal Housing and Urban Development administration announced new regulations that clarify the expectations of the act, which aims to limit racial bias in housing. They demand that cities and towns across the country analyze housing patterns for signs of racial discrimination and report the findings.
To find out more about the ruling and regulations, Maureen McKinney interviewed a University of Illinois Chicago sociologist who specializes in issues of segregation. Maria Krysan is also an expert in the U of I’s Institute for Government and Public Affairs.