Become a Host Family

We are pleased that you would like to host an international student or visitor in your home. Our host families are located in Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver area. Hosting a student or visitor in your home can be a very exciting adventure! Most of our visitors/students are usually 18 years of age and older. However, we may have younger students coming to attend grade school or to participate in a short term summer or winter program. Students usually stay from a few weeks to several months. They are here to prepare for a career, to attend college, work in an internship, volunteer or learn English just for the fun of it. During this time you will have the opportunity to welcome a new member into your family and learn about other interesting cultures.
 

Benefits Of Being a Host Family

• Host families help visitors/students learn about other cultures making lifelong friends, and on a grander scale contribute to increasing tolerance, understanding, and peace in the world.
• Host families appreciate the new and life long friendships they make with their guests. Many of our families enjoy the companionship of having an international visitor in their home to enrich their own family.
• Host families experience a renewed sense of peace and sharing, as they open their homes to visitors. Many host children and teenagers especially enjoy the experience of gaining a new international brother or sister to live with. The family gains a greater understanding of living in love and harmony with others.
• Hosting an international visitor is so rewarding that most of our host families take in students and visitors on a regular basis.

Who Can Be A Host Family

Harmony Homestay understands that “Family” can include people from many walks of life. Our host families represent the diversity of Canada. Harmony Homestay families include:

• Families with children and teenagers
• Families without children
• Retired people
• Families with grandparents living in the same home
• People from many different ethnic and religious backgrounds

Host Family Qualities

• Have a genuine interest in other cultures and nationalities.
• Be warm and compassionate.
• Have a sincere interest in international exchange.
• Make your visitor’s safety both in and outside the home a priority.
   

Host family Requirements:

• The host family must be Canadian Citizen.
• English must be spoken as the first language.  English only, should be used when the visitor is present. This includes phone conversations and interaction with other guests in the home.
• The host family must provide 3 meals per day and an evening snack.
• The host family may not have more than 2 other homestay students/ visitors in their home during the visitor’s/student’s stay. (a total of 3 international visitors in your home, speaking different languages)
• The host family must provide a safe home and a private bedroom for our students/visitors.
• The room must have a least one window and furnished with a bed, desk, drawers, a lamp and storage space, The room must be heated to the comfort of the student.
• The guest room cannot be shared with another visitor or family member, unless our visitors request 2 people per room.
• The host family will not leave the visitor/student alone in the home for overnight or consecutive nights, without an immediate adult, relative, or an adult present in the home to care for their visitor.
• The host family will take their visitors/students to school (or agency) by public transit for the first and/or second day or until the visitor/student is comfortable taking the public transit alone. The total travel time by public transit (including walking) must not exceed 45 minutes. Younger students must be brought to school.
• Internet connection required. No dial-up.
• The host family must provide a criminal record check at their expense for all adults in the home if the international student is under the age of 18 years.
• The host family will give one month notice to terminate the homestay.
• Host family will sign a host family agreement at the time of student placement.

Administration/Finders Fee:

A $50.00 non-refundable administration/finders fee is payable to Harmony Homestay upon confirmation of each long term student placement.

If you meet all the requirements listed above, please complete the on-line application below.