Privacy Statement
The Northampton Housing Authority (“NHA”) operates the website http://www.northamptonhousing.org (“Site”). This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information we receive from users of the Site.
The NHA will use your Personal Information only for improving the Site. By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
Information Collection & Use
While using our Site, the NHA may ask you to provide us with certain Personally Identifiable Information (PII) that can be used to contact or identify you. PII may include, but is not limited to your name, address, employment history, or data related to your interactions with our Site, including digital forms and other content. The NHA also utilizes third-party web applications which collect PII, or financial information for use by the NHA in housing processes. You will be instructed when you are about to leave the NHA’s Site to use third-party applications. While the NHA utilizes the data collected through these third-party vendors, the NHA cannot be held liable for the data collection practices of third-party vendors. Please refer specifically to third-party vendor privacy policies for terms and use. For more information regarding the agency’s sole housing web application vendor please visit: https://emphasys.se/pages/privacy-policy.
Log Data
Like many site operators, the NHA collects information that your browser sends whenever you visit our Site (“Log Data”).
This Log Data may include information such as your computer’s Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, browser type, browser version, the pages of our Site that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages and other statistics.
In addition, the NHA uses Google Analytics that collects, monitors and analyzes data. Data compiled by Google Analytics provides the NHA information with respect to visitor interactions on the Site, and includes but is not limited to, site clicks, demographic information, device usage, and other visitor metrics. This data is used by the NHA to disseminate more effective content, tailored to the needs of the NHA’s Site visitors. You may opt out of the automated collection of information by Google Analytics for the purpose of advertising by visiting: http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/.
Electronic Communications
We may use your Personal Information to contact you with newsletters, marketing or promotional materials and other information that is used to keep Site visitors informed. Communication between the NHA and recipients of electronic communications is entirely voluntary and requires subscription to the agency’s e-communications. Once subscribed, you may opt-out of any e-communications by utilizing the opt-out feature readily available within each of the agency’s individual communications.
Social Media
The Northampton Housing Authority (“Authority”) recognizes the importance of online social media networks as a communication tool. Social media sites facilitate further discussion of Authority issues, operations and services by providing members of the public with the opportunity to participate in many ways using the Internet. The use of social media presents certain risks, and carries with it certain responsibilities. The goal is to ensure that use of social media advances, rather than impedes, the operation of government. As such, the agency has established a Social Media Policy (“Policy”).
The purpose of the policy is to set forth general guidelines that must be adhered to with respect to utilization of social media sites for official NHA purposes, as well as personal use of social media by NHA employees. The NHA recognizes that employees and officials have the right to participate as citizens in public forums and discussions (including social media platforms) on matters of public concern. However, that right is balanced against the legitimate interests of the NHA in promoting accountability, reasonable judgment, and the efficiency of the public services it performs through its employees and officials.
All NHA social media sites adhere to applicable state, federal and local laws, regulations and policies including the Public Records Law, Public Records retention schedules, Copyright Law and other applicable NHA policies. Public Records Law and e-discovery laws and policies apply to social media content. The NHA reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of the Social Media policy or any applicable law.
Social media applications are third-party digital communication and engagement tools integrated into the NHA’s Site. These applications collect data on application use for the purpose of advertising. You may opt-out of automated collection of data on social media and other third-party advertising applications by visiting http://www.aboutads.info/choices/.
Cookies
Cookies are files with small amounts of data, which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and are stored on your computer’s hard drives.
Like many sites, the agency uses “cookies” to collect information. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Site.
Security
The security of your Personal Information is of the utmost importance to the agency. The NHA Site is monitored regularly by NHA staff, and a reputable hosting provider to ensure the Site is optimized to provide the highest level of security. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Information, please remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy is effective as of 1/1/19 and will remain in effect except with respect to any changes in its provisions in the future, which will be in effect immediately after being posted on this page.
The NHA reserves the right to update or change this Privacy Policy at any time and you should check this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of the Site after the NHA posts any modifications to the Privacy Policy on this page will constitute acknowledgment of the modifications and consent to abide and be bound by the modified Privacy Policy.
If the NHA makes any material changes to this Privacy Policy, the NHA will notify you with a prominent notification on the Site and by any additional communications deemed appropriate