Housing Assistant Effective Date: October 31, 2025 Last Updated: October 31, 2025
At Housing Assistant (“we,” “us,” or “our”), we are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website https://housingassistant.org, submit a contact or application form, communicate with us via phone or text, or otherwise interact with our housing assistance programs.
We do not sell your personal information to anyone — ever.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information in three main ways:
A. Information You Provide Directly
When you fill out forms, contact us, or apply for housing assistance, you may provide:
- Contact Information: Name, phone number, email address, mailing address
- Household Information: Income level, family size, senior status, caregiving responsibilities
- Eligibility Details: Proof of age, income, residency, or disability (if applicable)
- Communication Preferences: Consent to receive SMS or email updates
SMS Opt-In: If you provide a mobile number and check the consent box (or reply “YES” to a confirmation text), you explicitly agree to receive text messages about housing opportunities, application status, and program updates. You can opt out anytime by replying STOP.
B. Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we may collect:
- Usage Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent on site
- Cookies & Analytics: We use Google Analytics (with anonymized IP) to understand how visitors use our site and improve services
You can disable cookies in your browser settings. See Section 6 for more.
C. Information from Third Parties
We may receive limited data from:
- Partner organizations (e.g., senior centers, social service agencies) who refer clients
- Public records (to verify eligibility, such as property or income data)
2. How We Use Your Information
We only use your information to:
- Determine eligibility for housing programs
- Communicate with you about applications, waitlists, and available units
- Send program updates, newsletters, or urgent housing alerts (only with your consent)
- Improve our website and services
- Comply with legal, grant, or audit requirements
- Prevent fraud or misuse of our programs
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.
We only share data when necessary and under strict conditions:
| Recipient | Purpose | Safeguards |
|---|---|---|
| Government & Funders | Grant reporting, compliance audits | De-identified or aggregated data only |
| Property Partners | Match applicants to available units | Limited data; under confidentiality agreements |
| Service Providers | Hosting, email/SMS delivery (e.g., Twilio, Mailchimp), analytics | Contractually bound to protect your data |
| Legal Authorities | Required by law (e.g., subpoena, court order) | Only when legally obligated |
4. SMS & Messaging Consent (TCPA Compliance)
We follow strict Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) rules:
- We only send SMS to numbers where the user has:
- Provided the number via our web form and
- Checked the consent box or
- Replied “YES” to a confirmation message
- Standard Messages: Application updates, housing alerts, appointment reminders
- Frequency: Varies (typically 1–4 messages/month)
- Cost: Message & data rates may apply
- Opt-Out: Reply STOP to unsubscribe instantly Reply HELP for support
We maintain records of consent and honor all opt-out requests immediately.
5. Data Security
We take reasonable measures to protect your information:
- Encrypted connections (HTTPS/SSL)
- Secure storage with access controls
- Regular security reviews
- Staff training on data privacy
However, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Your Privacy Choices
You have the right to:
- Access your personal information we hold
- Correct inaccurate data
- Request deletion (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Opt out of SMS or email communications at any time
- Disable cookies via your browser
To exercise these rights, contact us at: 📧 privacy@housingassistant.org 📮 Housing Assistant, Attn: Privacy Officer, 5940 Danny Kaye, San Antonio, TX 78240
We will respond within 30 days.
7. Cookies & Tracking
We use:
- Essential Cookies: Keep the site functional
- Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics): Understand visitor behavior (anonymized)
You can manage cookies in your browser:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Cookies
- Firefox: Preferences → Privacy & Security