Protected classes are legally protected characteristics with which people identify. The seven federally protected classes under the Fair Housing Act are race, religion, national origin, color, familial status (the presence of children under the age of 18 in a household), sex, and disability. This means that every state has at least these seven protected classes. Most homes are covered under the Fair Housing Act with few exceptions. The types of housing that are covered include apartments, private homes, nursing homes, dormitories, mobile home parks, homeless shelters, and many other dwellings. This means that discrimination in rentals, home purchases, and other housing-related transactions such as appraisals, homeowners insurance, and mortgage lending are illegal.
虽然联邦规定了七个受保护的等级，但各州和各市都可以在其管辖范围内确定其他受保护的等级。 例如，宾夕法尼亚州有两个额外的受保护群体，保护 40 岁以上的人不会因为年龄以及辅助动物的使用者、饲养者和训练者而受到歧视。 城市、乡镇和区也可以增加受保护群体。例如，费城就有包括收入来源在内的 15 个受保护类别。还可以通过立法增加更多的受保护类别。
如果您居住在费城、宾夕法尼亚州东南部或利哈伊谷，并遭受过歧视，请联系info@equalhousing.org、866-540-FAIR 或举报歧视行为。
