The Fair Housing Act of 1968, also known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968, was passed by Congress shortly after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Today, the Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. Currently, the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on the following protected classes: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status.

For the state of California, the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and Unruh Civil Rights Act were passed in 1959 to provide state-wide protections against discrimination in housing. Further, California law protects individuals from illegal discrimination by housing providers based on the following protected classes: race, color, ancestry, national origin, primary language, age, religion, mental or physical disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, familial status, source of income, and military or veteran status.  

The City of Soledad Housing Division prioritizes collaborating with HUD Certified Counseling agencies to raise awareness on housing discrimination and provide educational resources related to fair housing and equal opportunities for all.