IERC PRIVACY POLICY

This notice describes our policy regarding the collection and disclosure of personal information. Personal information, as used in this notice means information that identifies an individual personally and is not otherwise publicly available information (Non-public information). It includes personal financial information such as credit history, income, employment history, financial assets, living expenses, bank account information and financial debts, your social security number, personal information concerning your financial circumstances and other information that you have provided to us. IERC is committed to assuring the privacy of individuals and families who have contacted us for assistance. We assure you that all information shared both orally and in writing will be managed within legal and ethical considerations. Your “non-public information” will be provided to creditors, program monitors, and others only with your authorization and signature. We may also use anonymous aggregated case file information for the purposes of evaluating our services, gathering valuable research information, and designing future programs.

Type of information that we gather about you: Information about your transactions with us, your creditors, or others, such as your account balance, payment history, parties of transaction, and credit card usage; and information we receive from a credit reporting agency, such as your credit history.

You may opt out of certain disclosures. You may “opt-out” of disclosures of your non-public personal information to third parties (such as your creditors), that is, direct us not to make those disclosures. Please see the opt-out provision below.

Release your information to third parties. We restrict access to your non-public personal information to those employees who need to know to perform their jobs include underwriting and servicing of loans, making loan decisions, aiding you in obtaining loans from others, and financial counseling. We maintain physical electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your non-public personal information.

Counselor Obligations. Your counselor represents your interests and will provide you information and referrals on programs and resources that best meet your needs without regard to any other consideration. Your counselor cannot provide you with legal advice or financial advice; however, your counselor will make recommendations based on his/her knowledge of programs related to your goal. To avoid steering, the recommendation will include competing sources as well. It is up to you to review the recommendation and make a choice about which company and services you want to apply for, whether or not the company was referred by the counselor you choose.

Confidentiality and Security. We use locked files, user authentication and detection software to protect your information.

I/We acknowledge receipt of a copy of this disclosure and understand that IERC may receive fees or grants in connection with my transaction. I also acknowledge that my counselor will disclose if there is a transaction that is based on a grant or fee or other potential conflict related to the services I/We receive.

OPT OUT PROVISION (ONLY select an Opt-Out option if you would like to opt out of either provisions)
If you prefer that IERC not disclose personal information about you to unaffiliated third parties, you may opt out of those disclosures, that is, you may direct us not to make those disclosures (other than disclosures permitted by law). Please check the line or lines below to indicate your privacy choices.

Line 1______ : Limit disclosure of personal information about me to unaffiliated third parties other than non-profit organizations involved in community development. (If you opt out, we will not be able to discuss your situation with your servicer or any other third party)

Line 2______ : Limit disclosure of personal information about me to non-profit organizations involved in community development that are used only for program review, auditing, research, and oversight purposes.

____________________________
CLIENT NAME

____________________________
SIGNATURE/DATE

DISCLOSURE REGARDING
AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS

IERC is a not-for-profit organization that gets the majority of its income from grants and contributions. When you enter
into a discussion with your housing counselor, we want you to understand the nature of the counseling relationship. The
counselor has an obligation to provide you with information that will support your housing goal with the utmost care,
integrity, and honesty.
Counseling is a counselor-to-client or counselor-to-group activity during which the counselor completes some or all of
the following activities:
• Interviews you to obtain basic information about you, your family and your housing need, problem or goal and
helps you determine a potentially realizable objective you set for yourself.
• Identifies resources within the Agency (such as loans, grants or rental properties), community or government
agencies that might assist in meeting your need or resolving your problem.
• Designs and explains a counseling plan that suggests how you can address your need or desire.
• Recommends additional private or group counseling sessions conducted by the Agency or by other community
organizations.

I_____________________________, (Client Name):
1. Understand that IERC provides foreclosure loss mitigation counseling after which I will receive a written action
plan consisting of recommendations for handling my finances, possibly including referrals to other housing
agencies as appropriate.
2. Understand that IERC receives Congressional funds through HUD, and a CalHFA NMS program and, as such, is
required to share some of client’s personal information with CalHFA NMS program administrators or their
agencies for purposes of program monitoring, compliance, and evaluation.
3. Give permission for program administrators and/or their agents to follow up with me for the purposes of
program evaluation.
4. Acknowledge that I have received a copy of IERC’s Privacy Policy.
5. May be rereferred to other housing services of the organization or another agency or agencies as appropriate
that may be able to assist with particular concerns that have been identified. I understand that I am not
obligated to use any of the services offered to me. (We are prohibited by company policy to refer you to any
non-related housing counseling service that we may be able to provide.)
6. Understand that a counselor may answer questions and provide information, but not give legal advice. If I want
legal advice, I will be referred to appropriate assistance.
7. Understand that IERC provides information and education on numerous loan products and housing programs,
and I further understand the housing counseling I receive from IERC in no way obligates me to use any of the
recommended services or services provided.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I understand that IERC is a HUD-Approved Counseling Agency that offers a wide array of services. IERC provides the
following housing counseling services:
Pre-Purchase Counseling: The purpose of Pre-Purchase Counseling is to address issues that may prevent or delay
affordable mortgage financing, review a tri-merge credit report, review a spending plan, current savings habit, and
develop an action plan to overcome obstacles and achieve the clients’ homeownership goals.

Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops: Our certified housing counselors will help clients determine if home
ownership meets their lifestyle, understand the key role players in the process and the responsibilities, how to create a
spending plan, understanding credit, help them determine mortgage affordability, shopping for a mortgage loan,
shopping for a home, knowing your rights, closing the deal, and how to protect their investment.

Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling: IERC) offers oneon-one counseling designed to help clients
resolve mortgage delinquency and/or prevent foreclosure. With the help of a counselor, advice is given to the clients
based upon their current financial situation and mortgage obligation, investor/servicer guidelines, possible solutions are
discussed and a plan is developed to resolve the delinquency.

Financial, Budgeting and Credit Workshops/Center for Financial Advancement CFA IERC works with participating CFA students from various HBCU’s. Credit, money management, and homeownership workshops are provided to students to
allow them to become a savvy consumer and future homeowner.

e-home and Framework: IERC offers clients the option of an online homebuyer education course. (Membership fees
ARE NOT required for online courses.)
Our counseling and financial coaching will address an array of financial issues but not limited to goal setting, money
management, credit, debt, and savings.
I understand that it is my right and responsibility to decide whether to engage in any course of housing
counseling with IERC and determine whether counseling is suitable for my housing problem.
I may be referred to other housing services of the organization or another agency or agencies as appropriate that may
be able to assist with particular concerns that have been identified.
I understand that I am not obligated to use any of the services offered to me.
A counselor may answer questions and provide information, but not give legal advice. If I want legal advice, I will be
referred for appropriate assistance.
As a housing counseling participant, you are not obligated to receive, purchase, or utilize any other services offered by
IERC, or its exclusive partners, in order to receive housing counseling.
I understand that IERC does not guarantee that I will receive mortgage financing from any lender and/or
mortgage financing entity
I understand that IERC has the discretion to charge reasonable fees for some counseling services, and that these fees
will be explained to me prior to any counseling or education. I further understand that fees will not be charged if they
create a financial hardship and that I will not be denied counseling or education if I cannot pay the fees. Financial
documentation is required to prove hardship.
I understand that IERC provides information and education on numerous loan products and housing programs and I
further understand that the housing counseling I receive from IERC in no way obligates me to choose any of these
particular loan products, housing programs, or industry professionals associated with IERC. IERC has financial affiliation
or professional affiliations with HUD, NeighborWorks America, and banks including Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase,
and Wells Fargo.

By signing below, I acknowledge we have read the disclosure statement and understand it and have also received
HUD’s publication on home inspection and hazards of lead.

I acknowledge receipt of a copy of this disclosure and understand that IERC may receive fees or grants in
connection with my transaction. I also acknowledge that my counselor will disclose if there is a transaction-based
grant or fee or other potential conflict related to the services I receive.

CLIENT NAME  ______________________________

SIGNATURE/DATE ___________________________