Within the context of the HRA’s low rent public housing, Section 8 Programs, MHFA Rehab Loan Program, and CDBG Home Improvement Programs, the information we collect from you or about you (or from other individuals or agencies authorized by you) is collected, used, and disseminated for the administration and management of legally authorized programs. The information we collect from and about you is classified under Minnesota law as: 1) Public-anyone can see the information; 2) Private-only you and those authorized by law or by you can see the information; or 3) Confidential-you cannot see the information although those persons authorized by law can. The Private classification applies to most of the information we collect about you.

The purposes and uses of the information are for one or more of the following reasons:

1. To help us determine whether you are eligible to participate or to continue to participate in the HRA’s housing program for which you have applied.
2. To enable us to establish the level of rent you must pay in accordance with federal law.
3. To assist the HRA in maintaining or upgrading the housing stock.
4. To enable the HRA to comply with legal requirements governing its and other agencies’ legislative mandates.

B. YOUR RIGHTS WHEN SUPPLYING INFORMATION (M.S. 13.04)

The information you are asked to provide to the HRA is information necessary for our determination of your eligibility for program benefits. Collection of this information is authorized by the Federal Housing Act of 1937, as amended, and by the Minnesota Housing and Redevelopment Authority Act, M.S. 462.11, et. Seq. While you have the right to refuse to supply the information we request, the HRA may not be able to provide you with housing assistance. If you feel that certain information we request is an unwarranted invasion of your privacy, contact the HRA’s Responsible Authority.

C. WHO HAS ACCESS TO THE PRIVATE INFORMATION WE COLLECT ABOUT YOU?

Depending upon the housing program and as authorized by state, local, and federal law, the information we maintain may be shared with:

1. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
2. HRA employees and contractors and HRA selected volunteer agencies serving you or your dwelling unit.
3. Health care and human services under contract with the HRA.
4. Area social service agencies.
5. School districts.
6. Fire departments and paramedics when an emergency situation or investigation requires the sharing of information.
7. X-Cel to insure rental units are maintained as required by the lease.
8. U.S. Census Bureau.
9. Health care professionals from other agencies who assist the HRA in assessing and maintaining the required level of independent living capability for tenancy in public housing and eligibility on other housing programs.
10. City of St. Cloud and its employees.
11. Federal, state, or local auditors.
12. Researchers who are granted access to the data for the purposes of preparing summary data.
13. Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.
14. Other state and federal agencies as may be required by law.

If any criminal or civil investigation is begun in regard to you or your household, information may also be shared with county, state, local, or federal staff members who conduct such investigations pursuant to state and federal law. Information may also be shared with the appropriate judicial bodies.

We may deny parental access to private data when the minor, who is the subject of that data, requests that we deny such access. We may require the minor to submit a written request that the data be withheld. The written request shall set forth the reasons for denying parental access and shall be signed by the minor.

Unless otherwise authorized by statute or federal law, government agencies with whom we share private information must also treat the information as private. Other non-government agencies with whom we share private information must likewise treat that information as private.

D. WHO HAS ACCESS TO THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT ABOUT YOU?

Information collected as part of the HRA’s investigation in preparation for actual or potential litigation involving you is confidential information when it is contained in correspondence between the HRA and our attorney. Only the HRA and our attorney and those persons authorized by local, state, or federal law may have access to the information. You do, however, have the right to know if information about you has been classified confidential.

E. WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO?

You or your authorized representative or guardian may request to be shown information about your-self that is maintained by the HRA and that is classified as private.

There is no cost for this service, but there may be a charge for copies in which you would like made.

According to Minnesota Law, after you have been shown private information about yourself and have been informed of its meaning, the data need not be again shown to you for six (6) months thereafter, unless a dispute or legal action concerning your privacy rights is pending or additional data about you have been collected.

F. HOW CAN YOU CONTEST THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF INFORMATION IN YOUR FILE?

Write to us describing the nature of your disagreement. Send this information to:

We will act on your letter within thirty (30) days in accordance with the Minnesota Government Practices Act.

If you have any other questions about your privacy rights, please contact the HRA Responsible Authority.

* To move to application, you must enter your name and check box (v) to acknowledge that "I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE INFORMATION".