Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

To process applications for our programs (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program / LIHEAP, Weatherization Assistance Program / WAP, Universal Service Fund / USF, Senior Services, Community Services Block Grant / CSBG, and affordable housing), we may collect:

• Full legal name and household composition
• Address, phone number, and email address
• Income and eligibility documentation
• Utility account information (for energy-assistance applicants)
• Supporting documents (identification, utility bills, income verification, and other application materials)
• Case numbers assigned by federal and state program systems

How We Use Your Information

• Application processing: Documents and personal information are used to determine eligibility for and administer federal, state, and local benefit programs.
• SMS notifications: If you consent, we send transactional text messages about your application — see the SMS Program section below.
• Record keeping: We retain application records for the period required by federal and state grant compliance rules (including 2 CFR 200.334 for federal funds).
• Program improvement: Aggregate, de-identified data may be used to report on program outcomes to funders.

Information Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. We may share information only as required by:

• Federal and state program requirements (LIHEAP, WAP, USF, CSBG, HUD)
• Grant compliance and audit obligations
• Applicable law, subpoena, or legal process
• Service providers who process information on our behalf under contractual confidentiality (e.g., cloud storage, translation services)

This Website

• Cookies: this website sets no cookies and uses no advertising or tracking tools.
• Bigger text: if you press the A A button, your browser remembers that choice on your own device. It is not sent to PACO.
• Candid seal: pages show the Candid Seal of Transparency, which your browser loads from Candid (widgets.candid.org). Candid can see that the image was requested, as any website can.
• Donations: gifts go through Zeffy. Zeffy's own privacy policy applies on its pages, and Zeffy shares your name, email and gift with PACO so we can thank you and send your receipt.
• Forms: what you type in a form on this site goes to PACO staff and is used only to answer your request. It arrives by email in PACO's Microsoft 365, and if you give us your email address, we send you a confirmation.
• Visitor counts: if we add a tool that counts visits, it will be one that sets no cookies, and this page will say so first.

SMS / Text Message Program

• Opt-in: SMS notifications are sent only to applicants who provide explicit written consent on PACO’s intake form (paper or web) by checking a dedicated SMS consent box. We do not add phone numbers to our SMS list from any other source.
• Message types: Application received confirmations, requests for missing documents, appointment reminders, and application status updates (approved, denied, or pending).
• Message frequency: Varies based on your application activity. Typically 1–6 messages per application cycle.
• Cost: Message and data rates may apply based on your wireless plan. PACO does not charge for these messages.
• Opt-out: You may opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message from PACO. You will receive a confirmation and no further messages will be sent.
• Help: Reply HELP to any message, call (201) 963-8282, or email [email protected].
• No sharing: Your phone number and SMS opt-in status are not sold, rented, or shared with any third party for marketing purposes. Your consent is not a condition of receiving PACO’s services — you may apply for and receive any PACO benefit without agreeing to SMS.

Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information, including encrypted storage, secure transmission (HTTPS/TLS), and role-based access controls that limit data access to authorized PACO staff only.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Opt out of SMS notifications at any time
• Request that we explain how your information is used

Children’s Privacy

PACO programs serve households that may include children, but we do not knowingly collect information directly from children under 13 without a parent or guardian’s involvement.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page will reflect any changes.

Contact Us

PACO Agency (Puertorriqueños Asociados for Community Organization, Inc.)

390 Manila Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Phone: (201) 963-8282

Email: [email protected]

Web: pacoagency.org