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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/Victoria Homestay Agency 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-Victoria 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.
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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
