Privacy Policy

Information we collect

• Account information: email address and a unique user ID created when you sign up or sign in with Google.
• Profile information: name, phone number, birth date, county, current housing situation, household size, whether you have children or pets, income sources, documents you have, and any notes you choose to add.
• Saved shelters: which shelter listings you bookmark so you can find them quickly.
• Applications and waiting lists: the programs you apply for, the shelter you picked, your household size, contact preferences, needs, and status updates.
• Shelter submissions: if you run a program and submit a listing, we collect the program name, address, hours, services, contact details, and any photos you upload.

How shelter submissions are stored

When a shelter or program staff member submits a listing, the information is stored in our secure backend database (Lovable Cloud). Each submission is tied to the submitter's account when they are signed in, or stored as an anonymous submission when they are not.

• Photos are uploaded to private storage and reviewed before any listing goes live.
• Submissions are not displayed publicly until a reviewer verifies the details.
• We do not publish photos of guests or private intake records.
• Contact details are used only to verify the listing or ask follow-up questions.

How waiting list applications are stored

When you join a shelter waiting list, your signup is saved to your account so you can see your place and update it later.

• Your waiting list entry is linked to your user ID and the shelter you selected.
• Shelter staff may see the household size, phone number, needs, and status you provided.
• We do not sell waiting list information or use it for advertising.
• You can remove yourself from any waiting list at any time from your profile.

How we use your information

• To show you nearby shelters, programs, and resources that match your situation.
• To pre-fill forms so you do not have to re-enter the same information repeatedly.
• To notify you when a bed may open at a shelter where you joined the waiting list.
• To review and publish shelter listings submitted by program staff.
• To improve the app and fix problems.

Who can see your data

• You: your profile, saved shelters, applications, and waiting list entries are only visible when you are signed into your account.
• Shelter staff: when you join a waiting list, the staff at that shelter may see the details you shared so they can contact you about an opening.
• Service providers: we use secure cloud infrastructure to host the app and database. Our hosting providers cannot browse your personal information.
• We do not sell your data. We do not share personal information with advertisers, data brokers, or marketing platforms.

Security

We use industry-standard security practices, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), database access rules that limit who can read each row, and authentication required for personal data. No system is perfect, and we encourage you not to share sensitive documents like Social Security numbers unless a specific program requires it.

Your rights

• You can view and edit your profile at any time from the Profile page.
• You can remove yourself from a waiting list at any time.
• You can delete saved shelters and application drafts.
• You can request deletion of your account and all associated data by emailing us at privacy@hopeandkey.com.

Children's privacy

Hope and Key is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or want to request access, correction, or deletion of your data, email us at privacy@hopeandkey.com.