ABSTRACT
The Federal Fair Housing Act is 50 years old. It was enacted to combat some of the nation’s most vicious forms of discrimination and exploitation. There was also a second mandate included in the law but lost in many debates over the years. That mandate is to replace the nation’s segregated living patterns with diverse and inclusive communities. The reality of discrimination and segregation, their costs, and the benefits that have been realized by this 1968 law reflect the contested terrain of ongoing debates, conflicts, and advocacy efforts over housing and community development policy and practice. That history, current struggles, and lessons for the future are noted in this chapter and delineated throughout the book.
