The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 extended federal civil rights protection to which groups?

• A. Single-parent households
• B. Families with children and persons with physical and mental handicaps
• C. Elderly renters
• D. Businesses and landlords

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is understanding which groups the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 added as federally protected classes. The Act expanded protections to two specific groups: families with children and individuals with disabilities (physical or mental handicaps). This means housing practices—selling, renting, advertising, financing, and related services—cannot discriminate against someone simply because they have children or because they have a disability. It also requires reasonable accommodations and modifications for people with disabilities to ensure access.

The other options don’t fit as the protected groups under this amendment. Elderly renters aren’t singled out as a protected class by the FHAA, and while single-parent households are included in families with children, the law states the protection for families with children rather than a separate category. Businesses and landlords aren’t the protected groups; they’re the ones barred from discriminatory behavior.