Requirements and Responsibilities
HOST A STUDENT! SHARE A LIFE!
Welcoming a student into your home means opening your heart and embracing a unique cultural journey together. As a host family, you’re not just providing a place to stay—you’re offering friendship, guidance, and the chance for a young person to feel truly at home while far from theirs. You become a trusted support, sharing your traditions, daily life, and meaningful moments that can create lifelong connections.
Students are provided with:
- A private bedroom with a study area and access to WiFi
- Three balanced meals a day for high school students; two meals for adult students
- Transportation to school for high school students, plus guidance in navigating public transportation upon arrival
- Assistance with shopping, doctor visits, emergency care, and other everyday needs
By hosting, you’re not only changing a student’s life—you’re enriching your own with new perspectives, friendships, and unforgettable experiences. Open your home and discover the joy of sharing life with an international student!
MORE THAN JUST A ROOM!
Being an ED Homestay host family goes far beyond simply offering a room—it’s about opening your home and your heart to welcome a student as part of your family. The best hosts are caring, flexible, and genuinely interested in sharing their lives and American culture. They listen, encourage, and help a student navigate new experiences, offering guidance, kindness, and understanding each day. Hosts include their student in family traditions, conversations, and daily activities, helping them build confidence and lasting memories. While there are practical requirements and background checks to ensure safety, what matters most is creating a warm, supportive environment where a student feels valued, respected, and loved as one of your own.
CHAMPIONING STUDENT & FAMILY SUCCESS
ED Homestay is here to support both the host family and the student, and to act as a mediator should a situation arise. Our Student Managers are available to assist students and host families in the adjustment process and throughout the course of the student’s stay in America. They are available 24/7 for emergency assistance.
Like mentors, the Student Managers meet the students regularly to ensure they are progressing well academically and socially. A progress report is also prepared to update the students’ parents on a monthly basis. EdHomestay, host families and school personnel provide an important support system to ensure student success.
"I'm Ready to Host! What's Next?"
Ready to open your home and heart to an international student? Learn exactly what to expect and how to get started as a host family with our step-by-step EDH Host Family Info Pack. From the application process to welcoming your student at the airport, we guide you every step of the way. Click below to dive in!