Does a private integrated club violating the Federal Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent to a minority family?

The answer is based on the specific nature of private integrated clubs and their capacity to limit membership. Private clubs that operate on a membership basis are generally exempt from the Fair Housing Act in terms of their housing practices, as long as the club is established for social purposes and not for profit. This exemption allows these clubs to impose membership requirements that can include restrictions on who can become a member, and consequently, who can rent or live in the club's facilities.

In this context, the club's right to rent only to members is protected, which means they can set their own membership criteria, which could include not renting to non-members regardless of their race. The key aspect here is that the club is private and operates with the intent of serving its members' interests. While the club might have minority members, which aligns with integrated community principles, the exemption from the Fair Housing Act means they can still choose to restrict who may apply to be a member and, subsequently, who may rent from them. This reflects a balance between the rights of private entities to govern themselves and the broader public policy goals of the Fair Housing Act.