Privacy Notice
OHFA respects your right to privacy and will make every effort to protect it when you visit our website or contact us via email. Here are some things you should know about how we protect your privacy:
Visitors to ohiohome.org should be aware of the following information.
Types of Information Being Collected and Use of the Information
General Usage Statistics:
OHFA collects general usage statistics for its websites. These statistics do not contain personally identifiable information such as a user's name, address, telephone number, email address, etc. The statistics do contain IP address information and user traffic information related to users' movement within the website. The usage statistics are used to measure traffic to our program and divisional website pages and determine the paths users take to access that information.
Incoming Inquiries Via Online Forms and Email:
Unsolicited inquiries to OHFA are automatically forwarded in an email to an individual or group of individuals at OHFA. The information collected includes all information the user submits and also includes the general usage statistics as described above. Information provided to OHFA through on-line forms may not be private. That information may be subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act. Incoming inquiries may from time to time be analyzed to provide information or to determine the volume of interest in the inquiry group to which the message is directed.
Information Solicited By OHFA:
Users of certain programs or services of OHFA may be required to report information periodically. Some users will be directed to specially designed pages of OHFA's website or separate OHFA-maintained websites for reporting of the required information. In any case that a person is required to submit information to OHFA, the type of information being used and the use of that information will be consistent with applicable requirements of the program or agreement between the parties, regardless of the collection mechanism. Note: Exceptions to the Public Records Act may apply to some reporting information.
What We Collect
Information provided to us through our contact form.
- Please do not submit to us sensitive personally identifiable information, such as Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, or medical or financial information through our contact form.
Generic, internet-user information. It may include:
- Internet protocol address of the individual computer (or proxy server) making the request,
- Type of internet browser or computer operating system you are using,
- Date and time you accessed this site,
- Web pages visited on this site, and
- Internet address of the site from which you may have linked to this site.
How We Collect Information
Information is collected through voluntary disclosure by you through online forms and email questions.
Our website uses log files and web cookies to capture generic, internet-user information each time a request is made to view a page within this website.
When you send email to ohiohome.org, we will not routinely keep or share your email address with anyone outside of OHFA staff. We will only use your email address to respond to your requests for information or to forward it to the appropriate agency capable of meeting your needs. If you sign up for one of our email lists, we will only send you the kinds of information you have requested.
When you visit our website, we collect certain information about your visit that does not identify you personally. We can tell the type of computer, browser, and web service you are using. We also know the date and time you visit and the pages you visit. Collecting this information helps us design the site according to your needs.
Accessibility Policy
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency is committed to making this website and the information it contains accessible to as many people as possible. This site was developed with federal, state, and W3C accessibility guidelines in mind. We have made substantial efforts to increase the accessibility of this site and continue to work to improve it. If you have any difficulty using the website, or if you have suggestions to improve it, please email ohfa@ohiohome.org.
What We Do With the Information We Collect
Information that you submit in email or online forms is used so that we can answer or process your request as effectively as possible.All information collected through server log files is used in aggregate form to analyze usage trends and statistics to help us improve our website. It may also be used to identify and respond to threats to the state network.
Cookies:
A cookie may be created which may link your computer to OHFA's website. Cookies may be used when necessary to complete a transaction, to process data submitted to OHFA online or to facilitate ongoing Internet interaction. Information collected on OHFA's websites, including cookies, may be subject to disclosure pursuant to a public records request.
Public Records Request Policy
All records kept by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) are public, unless they are exempt from disclosure under Ohio law. All public records must be organized and maintained in such a way that they can be made available for inspection and copying.
Public records are to be available for inspection during regular business hours, except for published holidays. Public records must be made available for inspection promptly. Copies of public records must be made available within a reasonable time period. "Prompt" and "reasonable" take into account the volume of records requested; the proximity of the location where the records are stored; and the necessity for any legal review and redaction of the records requested.
- Public Records Request Policy (53 KB Adobe PDF File)
- Please submit all public record requests to publicrecords@ohiohome.org.
Client Information Will Not be Shared with the Public, but Public Records will be Made Available Upon Request
If you are an applicant for or a recipient of benefits or services administered or overseen by OHFA, then any information that you submit to OHFA that identifies any individual who benefits directly or indirectly from financial assistance that OHFA provides will NOT be shared with the public.
While your information is generally not considered a public record, any documents and records submitted to OHFA that are determined to be non-personally-identifying or non-confidential may be subject to the Ohio public records law, which requires that Ohio public agencies disclose certain documents and records, including electronic records, to the public upon request. Click here to proceed to the OHFA Contact page.
In addition, even though OHFA does not share an applicant or recipient's personal information with the public, we will share certain information submitted through email or online forms with other Ohio state agencies when necessary to respond to your email request or process your online form. For example, if you have a question regarding the privacy of state income tax filings, we may forward your question to the Ohio Department of Taxation.
Any information collected through this website that indicates a threat of harm to people, property or systems or a violation of a law may be shared with law enforcement and used in connection with a criminal investigation, prosecution or other legal proceedings.
Access to and Dispute of Information
Under sections 1347.08 and 1347.09 of the Ohio Revised Code, individuals have the right to access information maintained in personal information systems that pertains to them, including the right, within limits, to inspect, correct and dispute such information. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency maintains a few personal information systems to effectively support the administration of its various programs.
For record-keeping systems not covered by Chapter 1347 of the Ohio Revised Code, we will work with you to give you the opportunity to inspect, correct or dispute any information we may have about you in such other records system, subject to restrictions or limits in Ohio law.
How We Protect Your Information (Confidential Personal Information and the OHFA Policy on Protecting Privacy)
Ohio Revised Code 1347.15 requires OHFA to adopt rules regulating access to the confidential personal information the agency keeps, whether electronically or on paper. OHFA has adopted Ohio Administrative Code rules pertaining to confidential personal information as rules 175-10-01 | 175-10-02 | 175-10-03 | 175-10-04 | 175-10-05.
Contact
Any further questions concerning the privacy policy for the Ohio Housing Finance Agency can be submitted online here. Written correspondence may be sent to:
OHFA
2600 Corporate Exchange Dr.
Columbus, OH 43231
Attn: OHFA Chief Privacy Officer