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Privacy Policy

Effective Date: June 2026

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House of the South (HOTS) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of everyone who visits our website, requests services, attends our events, volunteers, donates, or contacts our organization.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and the choices you have regarding your information.

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Who We Are

House of the South (HOTS) is a climate justice-informed housing and community support initiative based in South Florida. We work to help individuals and households experiencing homelessness, displacement, housing instability, and barriers to basic needs move toward safety, stability, and opportunity.

Information We Collect

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

  • Name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Mailing address

  • Emergency contact information

  • Demographic information you choose to share

  • Information related to housing, support services, or program participation

  • Volunteer applications

  • Event registrations

  • Donation information

We may also automatically collect limited information when you visit our website, including:

  • Device type

  • Browser type

  • IP address

  • Website pages visited

  • Date and time of visits

This information helps us improve our website and better serve our community.

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How We Use Your Information

We may use your information to:

  • Respond to inquiries and requests for assistance

  • Connect individuals with housing and support services

  • Register participants for programs and events

  • Communicate updates, newsletters, and announcements

  • Process donations

  • Improve our services and website

  • Meet legal, reporting, and funding requirements

  • Evaluate program outcomes and community impact

Protecting Your Information

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure.

Access to sensitive information is limited to staff, volunteers, contractors, and service partners who need the information to perform their responsibilities.

While we work hard to protect your information, no internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

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Sharing Information

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We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information.

We may share information:

  • When you provide consent

  • With trusted service providers who help us operate our programs and website

  • With referral partners when necessary to connect you to requested services

  • When required by law, court order, or government request

  • To protect the safety, rights, or property of HOTS, our participants, or others

Whenever possible, information shared for reporting purposes will be aggregated or de-identified.

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Program and Service Information

Some individuals who access HOTS services may share sensitive information related to housing status, financial hardship, disability, health needs, family circumstances, gender identity, sexual orientation, or experiences of violence.

We collect only the information necessary to provide services, make referrals, maintain safety, comply with funding requirements, and improve our programs.

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Donations

When you make a donation, payment information may be processed by a secure third-party payment processor. HOTS does not store full credit card information on our servers.

Please review the privacy policies of any payment processing platform used through our website.

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Email Communications

If you subscribe to our mailing list, we may send updates about programs, events, volunteer opportunities, and community news.

You may unsubscribe from email communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails or contacting us directly.

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Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve user experience and understand website usage.

You may disable cookies through your browser settings, although some website features may not function properly.

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Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended to knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age without appropriate consent.

If we learn that personal information from a child under 13 has been collected without permission, we will take reasonable steps to remove that information.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

  • Request access to your personal information

  • Correct inaccurate information

  • Request deletion of your information

  • Withdraw consent where applicable

  • Request information about how your data is used

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information below.

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Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to other websites. HOTS is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites.

We encourage visitors to review the privacy policies of any website they visit.

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Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

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Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact:

House of the South (HOTS)
Email: Houseofthesouthprogram@gmail.com

South Florida, United States

For a nonprofit that provides housing assistance, case management, emergency support, and climate justice programming, I would also recommend adding a separate Confidentiality Policy, Website Terms of Use, and Photo & Media Release Policy to fully protect participants and the organization.

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