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.
Maine HUD Privacy Act Handbook with Explanation is a comprehensive guide that outlines the privacy rights and obligations under the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This handbook is designed specifically for Maine residents and provides in-depth information on how personal information is collected, used, protected, and disclosed by HUD and its affiliated agencies in Maine. The Maine HUD Privacy Act Handbook with Explanation covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to: 1. Privacy Act Overview: This section provides a brief summary of the Privacy Act, its purpose, and how it applies to HUD operations in Maine. 2. Personally Identifiable Information (PIN): Here, the handbook explains what constitutes PIN, such as names, addresses, social security numbers, and more. It elucidates when and how HUD collects this information from individuals, as well as how it is stored and protected. 3. Use and Disclosure of PIN: This section outlines the permissible uses and disclosures of PIN by HUD. It explains the circumstances in which HUD may share PIN with other agencies and entities and the limitations imposed by law. 4. Data Security and Privacy Safeguards: The handbook describes the measures taken by HUD to ensure the security and integrity of the PIN collected. It includes details on encryption, access controls, monitoring, and auditing to protect against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. 5. Individual Privacy Rights: This part of the handbook explains the rights individuals have regarding their PIN stored by HUD. It includes the right to access, review, and request amendments to their information, as well as the process for filing privacy-related complaints. 6. Maine-Specific Privacy Regulations: Maine HUD Privacy Act Handbook also discusses any additional privacy laws or regulations specific to the state. This may include state-level laws that afford individuals additional privacy rights beyond those granted by the federal Privacy Act. Though the Maine HUD Privacy Act Handbook with Explanation is comprehensive, it is worth noting that there may not be different types of handbooks specific to Maine. It is expected that the handbook would provide information tailored to the residents of Maine while adhering to the overarching guidelines and provisions set forth by the HUD Privacy Act.
