HUD gathers information on employees, individuals applying for HUD programs, business partners, contractors and clients. The Privacy Act of 1974 established controls over what personal information is collected by the federal government and how it is used.
The Act grants rights to United States citizens and legal permanent residents. Under the Privacy Act you:
" Have the right to see records about yourself; and
" Can correct a record that is inaccurate, irrelevant, untimely, or incomplete.
The Act mandates that the Government:
" Informs you why information is being collected and how it is going to be used;
" Assures that information is accurate, relevant, complete and up-to-date before disclosing it to others;
" Allows you to find out about disclosures of your records to other agencies or persons; and
" Provides you with the opportunity to correct inaccuracies in your records.
The Privacy Act applies only to records about individuals maintained by agencies in the executive branch of the government. It applies to these records only if they are kept in a "system of records." A "system of records" is a group of records from which the information was retrieved by an individual's name, social security number, date of birth or some other personal identifier.
The New York HUD Privacy Act Handbook is a comprehensive and informative guide that outlines the privacy regulations and guidelines implemented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in New York. This handbook serves as a valuable resource for individuals, organizations, and agencies involved in the housing sector, ensuring the protection and confidentiality of personal information. The New York HUD Privacy Act Handbook provides a detailed explanation of the Privacy Act of 1974, which governs the collection, use, and disclosure of personally identifiable information (PIN) by federal agencies. It emphasizes the importance of safeguarding PIN from unauthorized access, misuse, and disclosure, upholding the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality. This handbook also highlights the specific provisions and requirements applicable to HUD and its associated programs, providing clarity on how personal information is collected, stored, and shared. It covers a wide range of housing-related initiatives, such as rental assistance programs, public housing, fair housing, and community development grants, ensuring that individuals' privacy rights are upheld across these various programs. The New York HUD Privacy Act Handbook delves into the mechanisms employed by HUD to protect PIN, including secure data storage, access controls, and risk management protocols. It further outlines the procedures individuals can follow to access, amend, and challenge the accuracy of their personal information held by HUD. Additionally, it educates readers on their rights and remedies in case of privacy breaches or unauthorized use of their PIN. Furthermore, this handbook may have different types or versions, tailored to specific housing programs or categories. Some examples include the New York HUD Privacy Act Handbook for Public Housing Residents, providing detailed guidance for individuals residing in public housing projects, or the New York HUD Privacy Act Handbook for Section 8 Voucher Holders, offering program-specific information for individuals receiving rental assistance under the Section 8 program. In summary, the New York HUD Privacy Act Handbook is an essential reference for individuals, organizations, and agencies involved in the housing sector in New York. It ensures compliance with privacy regulations, reinforces the protection of personal information, and empowers individuals with knowledge about their privacy rights and remedies.
