Privacy Policy

This policy addresses collection, use, security and access to information on this website.

Section A. Introduction

Thank you for visiting the Washington State Housing Finance Commission ("Commission") web site and reviewing our Privacy Notice. This statement addresses collection, use and security of and access to information that may be obtained through use of the Commission web site. This notice covers the following topics:

Information Collected and How It Is Used
Personal Information and Choice
Public Access to Information
Nondisclosure of Certain Personal/Private Information
Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable Information
Cookies and Applets
Security
Disclaimer
Contact Information
 

Section B. Information Collected and How It Is Used

Information collected if you only browse this site:
If you do nothing during your visit to our web site but browse, read pages, or download information, we will gather and store certain information about your visit. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:

The Internet Protocol Address and domain name used. The Internet Protocol address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer. We use the Internet Protocol Address to direct Internet traffic to you. This address can be translated to determine the domain name of your service provider (e.g. xcompany.com or yourschool.edu); the type of browser and operating system you used; the date and time you visited this site; the web pages or services you accessed at this site; and the web site you visited prior to coming to this web site.

The information we automatically collect or store is logged and used by the Commission only to improve the content of our web services and to help us understand how people are using our services. The Commission analyzes the web site logs to determine how our web site is being used, so that we may continually improve the site's usefulness to the public.

What we collect if you volunteer information

If during your visit to our web site you participate in a survey, send an email, or perform some other transaction on-line, the following additional information will be collected: The email address, and contents of email, for those who communicate with us via email; information volunteered in response to a survey; and information volunteered through an on-line form for any other purpose. The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us.

We use your email to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you, to address issues you may identify, to further improve our web site, or to forward the email to another agency for appropriate action. Survey information and information from other on-line forms is used by the Commission to improve the quality of our services or for any additional purposes identified when we present a survey or otherwise request information from you. The Commission may use and disclose to third parties summaries or other non-personally identifiable information derived from information submitted on the site for other internal or external purposes, but the Commission will not disclose any such information personally identifying you without your prior permission.
 

Section C. Personal Information and Choice

You may choose whether to provide personal information on-line. "Personal information" is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes such things as an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information.

We collect no personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us by sending us email, participating in a survey, or completing an on-line form. You may choose not to contact us by email, participate in a survey or to provide any personal information using an online form. Your choice to not participate in these activities will not impair your ability to browse the Commission web site and read or download any information provided on the site. You may contact us as shown in Section J below (Contact Information) if you would prefer not to volunteer information online, but still furnish us with comments, input for a survey or do anything else which would otherwise involve the voluntary furnishing of information online.

If personal information is requested on the web site or volunteered by the user, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However, this information is a public record once you provide it, and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law.

If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact the Housing Finance Commission Public Information Officer as shown in the Contact Information Section of this statement.

Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children on-line or by email will be treated the same as information given by an adult, and may be subject to public access.
 

Section D. Public Access to Information

In the State of Washington, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy of individuals. Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws.

All of the information collected at this site becomes public records that may be subject to inspection and copying by members of the public, unless an exemption in law exists. RCW 42.17. 260(1) states that:

Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within the specific exemptions of subsection (6) of this section [RCW 42.17.260(6)], RCW 42.17.310, 42.17.315, or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy interests protected by RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315, an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315 when it makes available or publishes any public record; however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.

In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Notice and the Public Records Act or other law governing the agency’s disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will control.
 

Section E. Nondisclosure of Certain Personal Information

The Commission may request you to provide certain personal/private information in order to fulfill a request made by you and/or to improve the quality of our services.

Generally, all the Commission's files are available for public inspection, unless exempt from disclosure under the provisions of Chapter 42.17.310 RCW. Examples of information that is not available for public review include: Personal information maintained on borrowers or applicants for Commission programs; lists of individuals to be used for commercial purposes; personal information maintained on employees, appointees, or elected officials.
 

Section F. Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable Information

You can review any personally identifiable information we collect about you by using the information in the Contact Information section at the end of this Notice. You may recommend changes to your personally identifiable information you believe to be inaccurate by submitting a written request that credibly shows the inaccuracy. We will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections. (RCW 43.105.310)
 

Section G. Cookies and Applets

To better serve our users we may use "cookies" to customize your browsing experience with the Commission web site. Cookies are simple text files stored on your computer by your web browser. Cookies created on your computer by using this web site do not contain personally identifying information and do not compromise your privacy or security. We use the cookie feature only to store a randomly generated identifying tag on your computer.

Applets are tools downloaded to your computer to work with the software you have. Applets are intended to enhance your browsing experience by enabling you to view information in a unique manner. We use applets with this site to provide visual enhancements such as hover buttons and alternate text formats. You are not required to use applets to browse this site. Choosing not to accept applets will not affect your general ability to browse this web site and download information, but may adversely affect how information appears on your computer or your ability to view the information that the applet is intended to support.
 

Section H. Security

The Department of Information Services and the Commission have taken and are continuing to take several steps to safeguard the integrity of its data and prevent unauthorized access to information collected on the web site and maintained by the Commission. These measures are designed and intended to prevent corruption of data, block unknown or unauthorized access to our systems and information, and to provide reasonable protection of private information in our possession.

This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via the Commission web sites.
 

Section I. Disclaimer

The Commission web site has many links to other web sites. These include links to web sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on the Commission web site and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another web site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.

Neither the State of Washington, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the State of Washington warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at their own risk.
 

Section J. Housing Finance Commission Contact Information

To review your personal information, request correction of your personal information, or if you have questions about information presented in this Privacy Notice, please contact:

Communications Manager
Washington State Housing Finance Commission
1000 Second Avenue, Suite 2700
Seattle, Washington 98104-1046
Fax: 206.587.5113    Phone: 206.287.4409