Introduction

Thank you for visiting the Cypress Housing Group (CHG) website. This privacy policy governs Cypress Housing Group. CHG recognizes that it is critical for individuals and businesses to be confident that their privacy is protected when they visit CHG’s website.

Consistent with the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Law, and the Personal Privacy Protection Law, this policy describes CHG's privacy practices regarding information collected from users of this website. This policy describes what information is collected and how that information is used. Because this privacy policy only applies to this website, you should examine the privacy policy of any website, including other websites, that you access via links from this website.

For purposes of this policy, "personal information" means any information concerning a natural person which, because of name, number, symbol, mark, or other identifier, can be used to identify that natural person. CHG does not collect any personal information about you unless you provide that information voluntarily by sending an e-mail or by initiating an online transaction, including, but not limited to, donations, guest book registrations or other communication with us.

Information Collected Automatically When You Visit this Website

When visiting this website, CHG may, from time to time, automatically collect and stores the following information about your visit:

1.

The Internet Protocol Address and domain name used, but not the e-mail address. The Internet Protocol Address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer;
2.

The type of browser and operating system you used;
3.

The date and time you visited this site;
4.

The web pages or services you accessed at this site;
5.

The web site you visited prior to coming to this web site;
6.

The web site you visit as you leave this web site; and
7.

If you downloaded a form, the form that was downloaded.

None of the foregoing information is deemed to constitute personal information. The information that is collected automatically is used to improve this website's content and to help CHG understand how users are interacting with the website. This information is collected for statistical analysis, to determine what information is of most and least interest to our users, and to improve the utility of the material available on the website. The information is not collected for commercial marketing purposes and CHG is not authorized to sell or otherwise disclose the information collected from the website for commercial marketing purposes.

Cookies

Cookies are simple text files stored on your web browser to provide a means of distinguishing among users of this website. The use of cookies is a standard practice among Internet websites. To better serve you, we use "session cookies" to enhance or customize your visit to this website. Session cookies can be created automatically on the device you use to access this state agency website. These session cookies do not contain personal information and do not compromise your privacy or security. We may use the cookie feature to store a randomly generated identifying tag on the device you use to access this website. A session cookie is erased during operation of your browser or when your browser is closed.

The software and hardware you use to access the website allows you to refuse new cookies or delete existing cookies. Refusing or deleting these cookies may limit your ability to take advantage of some features of this website.

Information Collected When You E-mail this Website or Initiate an Online Transaction

During your visit to this website you may send an e-mail to CHG. Your e-mail address and the contents of your message will be collected. The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats included in the message. Your e-mail address and the information included in your message will be used to respond to you, to address issues you identify, or to improve this website. Your e-mail address is not collected for commercial purposes (unless you are requesting to make a donation, and even then such information is not provided to others for commercial purposes, but is available to certain government agencies if required to be provided or by operation of law) and CHG is not authorized to sell or otherwise disclose your e-mail address for commercial purposes.

CHG does not knowingly collect personal information from children or create profiles of children through this website. Users are cautioned, however, that the collection of personal information submitted in an e-mail will be treated as though it was submitted by an adult, and may, unless exempted from access by federal or State law, be subject to public access. CHG strongly encourages parents and teachers to be involved in children’s Internet activities and to provide guidance whenever children are asked to provide personal information online.

During your visit to this website you may initiate a transaction such as a donation or other matters. The information, including personal information, volunteered by you in initiating the transaction is used by CHG to operate CHG programs, which include fostering the development of low-income housing. The information collected by CHG may be required to be disclosed by CHG to the Internal Revenue Service (for reporting of donations) or for those purposes that may be reasonably ascertained from the nature and terms of the transaction in connection with which the information was submitted.

Information and Choice

As noted above, CHG does not collect any personal information about you during your visit to this website unless you provide that information voluntarily by sending an e-mail or initiating an online transaction, including, but not limited to, donations. You may choose not to send us an e-mail or submit data via an online transaction. While your choice not to contact us or submit documents to CHG may limit your ability to receive specific services through this website, it will not prevent you from requesting information from CHG by other means and will not normally have an impact on your ability to take advantage of other features of the website, including browsing or downloading publicly available information.

Disclosure of Information Collected Through This Website

The collection of information through this website and the disclosure of that information are subject to the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act. CHG will only collect personal information through this website or disclose personal information collected through this website if the user has consented to the collection or disclosure of such personal information. The voluntary disclosure of personal information to CHG by the user, whether solicited or unsolicited, constitutes consent to the collection and disclosure of the information by CHG for the purposes for which the user disclosed the information to CHG, as was reasonably ascertainable from the nature and terms of the disclosure.

However, CHG may collect or disclose personal information without user consent if the collection or disclosure is: (1) necessary for CHG to operate a program authorized by law, or authorized by state or federal statute or regulation; (2) made pursuant to a court order or by law; (3) for the purpose of validating the identity of the user; or (4) of information to be used solely for statistical purposes that is in a form that cannot be used to identify any particular person.

Further, the disclosure of information, including personal information, collected through this website is subject to the provisions of various state and federal laws. CHG may disclose personal information to federal or state law enforcement authorities to enforce CHG’s rights against unauthorized access or attempted unauthorized access to CHG’s information technology assets.

Retention of Information Collected Through this Website

The information collected through this website is retained by CHG. Information, including personal information, that you submit in an e-mail or when you initiate an online transaction is retained by CHG.

Access to and Correction of Personal Information Collected Through this Website

Any user may submit a request to CHG privacy compliance officer to determine whether personal information pertaining to that user has been collected through this website. Any such request shall be made in writing to our main address shown on this website and must be accompanied by reasonable proof of identity of the user. Reasonable proof of identity may include verification of a signature, inclusion of an identifier generally known only to the user, or similar appropriate identification.

The privacy compliance officer shall, within five (5) business days of the date of the receipt of a proper request: (i) provide access to the personal information; (ii) deny access in writing, explaining the reasons therefore; or (iii) acknowledge the receipt of the request in writing, stating the approximate date when the request will be granted or denied, which date shall not be more than thirty (30) days from the date of the acknowledgment.

In the event that CHG has collected personal information pertaining to a user through this website and that information is to be provided to the user pursuant to the user’s request, the privacy compliance officer shall inform the user of his or her right to request that the personal information be amended or corrected.

Confidentiality and Integrity of Personal Information Collected Through this Website

CHG is strongly committed to protecting personal information collected through this website against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Consequently, CHG limits employee access to personal information collected through this website to only those employees who need access to the information in the performance of their official duties. Employees who have access to this information are required to follow appropriate procedures in connection with any disclosures of personal information.

In addition, CHG may implement procedures to safeguard the integrity of its information technology assets, including, but not limited to, authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. These security procedures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day operations of this website as part of our continuing commitment to the security of electronic content as well as the electronic transmission of information.

For website security purposes and to maintain the availability of the website for all users, CHG may employ software to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise damage this website.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this privacy policy should not be construed as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided through this website. Information provided on this website is intended to allow the public immediate access to public information. While all attempts are made to provide accurate, current, and reliable information, CHG recognizes the possibility of human and/or mechanical error. Therefore, CHG makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability of the information provided by this website, and denies any expressed and implied warranty as to the same.

Links to Other Sites

This website contains links to other sites. CHG is not responsible for the privacy practices of the such websites. A link does not constitute an endorsement of the content, viewpoint or accuracy of such websites.

Contact Information

For questions regarding this Internet privacy policy, please contact: [email protected]

Policy Last Update Date: May 21, 2003