Data Purpose and Privacy Policy

In order to effectively conduct our program, Own It: Building Black Wealth (‘Own It’) needs to collect information from participants. If equity isn’t included in the design and implementation of programs, inequities will persist. Not collecting data on people’s identities erases marginalized people and hides inequities. To clearly name “race” acknowledges the racial injustices that underpin disparities and signals a commitment to address structural racism’s deadly effects on racial/ethnic minorities and to heal communities’ emotional wounds. Own It acknowledges that systemic racism is embedded within financial systems, practices, and policies, and is committed to exposing and eradicating these structural barriers. Capturing data, including race and ethnicity to show where disparities exist can point to specific, underlying structural inequities and monitor progress towards equity. With this policy, we ensure that we gather, store and handle data fairly, transparently and with respect of your privacy.

Scope

This policy refers to all Own It program participants and applicants who provide any amount of information to us.

Who is covered under the Data Protection Policy?

All Own It staff and volunteers must follow this policy.

Own It collects information:

  • during enrollment,
  • after each class session,
  • after the completion of a course,
  • follow up surveys,
  • after receipt of down payment grant and after the home purchase (if applicable).

Purposes

To evaluate the Own It program and its ability to serve the community:

1. Monitor progress towards equity.

  • Information could help demonstrate whether or not the program increases black homeownership and/or is helping Black families build wealth.

2. The below information could help Own It determine whether programs or specific courses should be continued, expanded, adjusted, or discontinued.

  • Course surveys with your feedback,
  • Surveys completed post-course work to assess the long-term impact of what you learned and progress on your wealth building goals.

3. To create awareness around the racial disparities of the wealth gap, homeownership rates, and advance equity by:

  • Identifying trends, potential injustices, and systemic racism in the local housing, real estate, and banking systems.
  • Showing the housing industry (realtors/lenders/banks/etc.) that this model works
  • Proposing solutions to address systemic and historical racism.

4. To show present and future donors/grants what their funding can accomplish.

Policy Elements

As part of our operations, we need to obtain and process information. This information includes any offline or online data that makes a person identifiable such as names, addresses, digital footprints, photographs, financial data, etc.

Own It collects this information transparently and only with your full cooperation and knowledge. Once this information is available to us, the following rules apply:

1. Any information included in publicly available reports will be entirely anonymous and will not include identifying information.

2. Information, data, and summarized results will generally be grouped together by such categories as class year, homeownership history, or demographic details like identity or income level.

  • Example: “Of families enrolled in courses in 2022, 90% of were first time homebuyers,” or: “Over 70% of families receiving an Own It grant have a household income between $50,000 and $150,000.”

3. If your identifying information is to be shared publicly Own It will ask your permission first.

  • Example: if we want to add your name to your quote, “I couldn’t have purchased a home without the assistance of Own It” says Insert Name Here. If you do not want your name added, Own It will use the quote without your name.

4. Your data will not be shared with third-party individuals without your prior consent.

Actions

To exercise data protection, we’re committed to:

  • Restrict and monitor access to sensitive data
  • Use secure networks to protect online data from cyberattacks

Contact the OWN IT team ([email protected]) if you have questions or concerns.