If you're in the market for a new mortgage loan then you should know something about the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

This act is a federal law designed to protect you when you apply for a mortgage. The act makes illegal the practice of discriminating against anyone applying for a mortgage based of race, color, religion, country of origin, sex, age, marital status or the source of funds that will be used to pay the recurring mortgage charges. Specifically, if some of the funds to pay the mortgage will be coming from a public assistance grant this fact cannot be used to deny someone a mortgage.

The purpose of the act is to insure that everyone is treated equally when applying for a mortgage. It doesn't guarantee you're going to get a mortgage, only that you have to be treated just like everyone else. If you believe you have been discriminated against in a mortgage application you can file a complaint here.