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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
