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Canadian families are
kind, hospitable, and do not need to be reminded of their
responsibilities. However, we have set the following guidelines for all
host families to adhere to, as we set guidelines for the student or
visitor, in order to make the best homestay experience possible.
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The homestay family is
required to avoid treating the student or visitor as a tenant by making
the student or visitor feel welcome. The host family must be tolerant of
the student’s foreign customs and habits. Remember to always be
understanding, and have patience with the student or visitor.
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During the student or
visitor stay, the host family is required to show the student or visitor
how to get to places of interest such as schools, community centres and
attractions and how to use public transportation.
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The student must be
provided with a nice clean private room with basic furniture such as:
- Comfortable bed
(including linen, duvet cover, blanket and two pillows)
- Night table, lamp, and
alarm clock/radio
- Work desk with chair
and desk lamp with sufficient lighting
- Closet and mirror
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Every day the host family
must provide nutritious meals, mostly home made.
The meals, especially dinner, should be served in a family gathering and
the student or visitor must feel welcome to the table at all times.
Healthy snacks such as yogurt, fresh fruits, milk, juice, tea/coffee
etc. need to be accessible to the student or visitor. No alcohol is to
be offered to the student or visitor.
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Only one student or
visitor is allowed per room, unless there is a special request by the
homestay applicant for shared accommodation.
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The host family must make
sure that the student has a quiet environment in order to study and
succeed in school, as well as quiet time to sleep and rest.
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The host family must
speak English with, and while in the presence of, the student or
visitor.
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Under no circumstances is
the host family to accept or request any favours such as house cleaning,
shopping, moving or lifting heavy items, gardening, baby sitting, etc…
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The host family is not
allowed to lend any type of vehicle to the student or visitor.
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As you should have
insurance for passengers in your car, you should also have sufficient
home and liability insurance in place. Host families must have a minimum
of one million dollar home liability insurance. Please review your home
insurance policy or consult with your insurance provider for details.
VHA–Vancouver Homestay Agency Inc does not assume any responsibilities
for any injuries suffered by the student or visitor while in the host
family's care.
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If any physical or verbal
abuse occurs, the student or visitor will be removed from the home
immediately. The incident will be reported to the police, and legal
action taken. (Applies to both the host family and
student/visitor)
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If the host family has
any concerns that they cannot discuss directly with the student or
visitor, please contact your VHA Representative as soon as possible.
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Homestay families must
never keep the student or visitor waiting outside the home. To avoid
such a situation a spare key can be helpful.
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Homestay minors must not
be left at home without homestay provider supervision.
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If a homestay student or
visitor accompanies their host family on holidays, outings, or trips,
the host family must pay for accommodation and food. The student or
visitor must pay for his or her own travel arrangements, admission
tickets, or personal expenses. If the student or visitor will not join
the host family, he or she must not be left alone. Alternate homestay
arrangements must be made, paid for by the host family, and approved by
a VHA representative.
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An increasing number of
international students visiting Canada have disabilities such as
blindness or being in a wheelchair, please let us know in your
application if you or your family is capable of hosting a student with
any type of disability.
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Homestay families should
not allow students or visitors to call long distance or dial through the
Internet via a modem with a long distance ISP (Internet service
provider). Students and visitors are advised to purchase their own long
distance pre-paid card or to make collect calls. VHA will not assume any
responsibility regarding long distance charges.
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The host family should do
the laundry for students, or familiarize them with the use of washer and
dryer, so they can do their own laundry.
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Upon a successful
inspection by VHA representative of the homestay house, the host family
applicant must provide a one-time criminal record check for our files.
You can obtain this from your nearest police station.
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Host family must explain
to the student or visitor how to evacuate the home in case of an
emergency. The home must have functioning fire smoke detectors on every
floor.
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All members of the family
must be willing to accept and host a student or traveling youth. Please
make sure that all members of your family agree and are not just going
along with the idea of hosting a student. It is such a wonderful
experience, but the student must be welcomed by everyone in your
household, including your pet!
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While the student can be
invited to attend religious services, the family should not apply any
pressure to do so. The family should learn about the student's beliefs
and culture, and respect them. The family should always be willing to
direct the student to his or hers religion's place of worship if
required. A host family must always respect the religious beliefs of the
student.
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VHA-Vancouver Homestay
Agency reserves the right to move the student for any reason. The host
family must immediately refund the balance of the unused period of time.
Please note, moving a student does not mean the termination of the
homestay provider and VHA agreement.
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Should a host family like
to terminate a homestay occupancy, reservation or provider agreement,
the host family must give VHA two weeks to one month notice to make
alternate homestay arrangements. Some exceptions may apply.
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Termination of the
homestay provider agreement can happen in case of a breach of the
homestay agreement or the host family's guidelines and responsibilities.
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VHA neither guarantees
nor promises occupancy to the host family. VHA placement is based on a
request and booking basis.
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VHA does not allow any
discrimination against students.
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As a user of this website
and our company services, and as a potential host family, you must agree
to our privacy policy and if you receive any information or material
from us regarding homestay placement, the information and materials
provided to you must stay confidential and only be used for the purpose
of making a decision regarding accepting or rejecting a homestay offer. Here is our
privacy policy
