1. Introduction

HomeOwnership4u ("we," "us," or "our") is a mission-driven organization with a pending application for nonprofit status. We are committed to expanding access to sustainable homeownership for working families through education and community partnerships. We are equally committed to protecting your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website (h4u.org), participate in our programs, make donations, or otherwise interact with us (collectively, our "Services").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

Program Participants and Prospective Homeowners

We may collect:

• Your name, address, email address, and phone number
• Household composition and family information
• Employment and income information
• Financial information relevant to homeownership readiness
• Housing preferences and needs
• Education program enrollment and completion records

Donors and Supporters

We may collect:

• Your name, address, email address, and phone number
• Payment and billing information for processing donations
• Donation history and preferences
• Employer information for matching gift programs

Partners and Volunteers

We may collect:

• Your name, contact information, and professional credentials
• Organization affiliation
• Background check information where required for volunteer roles
• Skills and availability

General Inquiries and Communications

We may collect:

• Information you provide when contacting us via email, phone, or web forms
• Survey responses and feedback
• Event registration information
• Newsletter subscription preferences

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Device information (device type, operating system, and browser type)
• Usage data (pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked, and referring URLs)
• Log data (IP address, access times, and general location information at city/region level)
• Cookies and similar technologies as described in Section 8

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from:

• Partner organizations: Information shared by city partners, builders, and community organizations with whom we collaborate
• Payment processors: Transaction confirmation information from donation processing services
• Publicly available sources: Information from public records relevant to our housing programs

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Program Delivery

We use your information to:

• Provide homeownership education and counseling services
• Assess eligibility for housing programs
• Match participants with appropriate resources and opportunities
• Track program outcomes and participant progress
• Coordinate with partner organizations on your behalf

3.2 Donor Relations and Fundraising

We use your information to:

• Process and acknowledge donations
• Provide tax receipts and donation records
• Communicate about the impact of your contributions
• Invite you to events and fundraising campaigns with your consent

3.3 Communications

We use your information to:

• Respond to your inquiries and requests
• Send newsletters and updates about our programs and impact with your consent
• Notify you of events, workshops, and educational opportunities
• Provide important updates about programs in which you are enrolled

3.4 Operations and Improvement

We use your information to:

• Analyze program effectiveness and outcomes
• Improve our website and services
• Conduct research to better serve our community
• Comply with grant reporting requirements using aggregated, de-identified data where possible

3.5 Legal and Compliance

We use your information to:

• Comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Respond to legal requests and prevent fraud
• Protect the rights and safety of our organization, participants, and partners

4. How We Share Your Information

We are committed to protecting your privacy and do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances.

4.1 Program Partners

With your consent, we may share relevant information with:

• City housing departments and municipal partners
• Participating builders and developers
• Lenders and financial institutions for program participants
• Other nonprofit partners involved in your homeownership journey

We will always inform you before sharing your information with program partners and explain the purpose of such sharing.

4.2 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party vendors who help us operate, including:

• Website hosting providers
• Email and communication platforms
• Payment processors for donations
• Database and CRM systems
• Analytics services

These providers are contractually required to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law, such as:

• In response to a court order, subpoena, or government request
• To comply with applicable laws and regulations
• To protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of others

4.4 Aggregate and De-Identified Data

We may share aggregate or de-identified information that cannot reasonably identify you for:

• Grant reporting and funding applications
• Research and program evaluation
• Public reporting on our impact and outcomes

4.5 Organizational Changes

In the unlikely event that HomeOwnership4u merges with another organization or transfers programs to another entity, your information may be transferred as part of that transition. We will notify you of any such change and your options regarding your information.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information, including:

• Secure, encrypted connections (HTTPS) for our website
• Access controls limiting who can view sensitive information
• Secure storage of physical records
• Staff training on privacy and data protection
• Regular review of our security practices

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We encourage you to take steps to protect your own information as well.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Our general guidelines are:

• Program participant records: Retained for the duration of your participation plus three (3) years for follow-up and outcome tracking, or as required by grant agreements, whichever is longer
• Donor records: Retained for three (3) years to comply with IRS requirements and provide donation history, or as required by law, whichever is longer
• Website analytics: Retained for twenty-six (26) months
• Communications records: Retained for three (3) years or until you unsubscribe, whichever is longer

7. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

7.1 Access and Correction

You may request access to the personal information we hold about you and ask us to correct any inaccuracies.

7.2 Deletion

You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions such as legal retention requirements or ongoing program participation.

7.3 Communication Preferences

You may opt out of promotional communications at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our emails
• Contacting us at info@h4u.org
• Calling us at 801.400.6580

Please note that even if you opt out of promotional communications, we may still send you transactional messages related to programs in which you are enrolled.

7.4 California Residents

If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including:

• The right to know what personal information we collect and how it is used
• The right to request deletion of your personal information
• The right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

Note: HomeOwnership4u is in the process of obtaining nonprofit status. Should we qualify for an exemption under the CCPA, we remain committed to honoring these rights for all individuals.

7.5 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of your privacy rights, please contact us using the information in Section 11. We will respond to your request within thirty (30) days.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

8.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help websites remember your preferences and understand how you use the site.

8.2 How We Use Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Ensure our website functions properly
• Remember your preferences
• Understand how visitors use our website
• Improve our website and services

8.3 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential cookies: Necessary for the website to function and cannot be disabled
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand website usage
• Social media cookies: Enable sharing content on social media platforms

8.4 Your Cookie Choices

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically view what cookies are stored on your device, delete some or all cookies, and block cookies from being set. Please note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

8.5 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information about your use of our website, which is transmitted to and stored by Google. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not directed to children under the age of thirteen (13). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will take steps to delete such information.

For housing programs that involve families with children, we collect only the information necessary for program eligibility and participation, and such information is provided by the parent or guardian.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including our partners, social media platforms, and other resources. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

You may also reach us through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Post the revised policy on our website
• For material changes, provide additional notice such as a prominent website announcement or email notification

Your continued use of our Services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

This Privacy Policy is effective as of December 23, 2025.