Find Homestay in Canada 

If you do not want to live in on-campus or off-campus accommodation, then you can find a homestay in Canada that meets your individual needs and expectations. Homestays are local families that live near schools or universities and welcome international students to stay with them during the school year.

Basically, the homestay is your home away from home. That is why many international students want to find a homestay in Canada. They live with the same host family during the whole period of study and enjoy the experience of living in a familial setting. As a rule, only one international student is accommodated with a family who aims to support and help the newcomer to accommodate to new life settings in Canada.

If you want to find a homestay in Canada, you should know that all host families are evaluated and screened by the school or the homestay agency. It is done to provide international students with a safe and caring environment. Host families are also required to adhere to provincial homestay guidelines, including a police screen for any person resident within their home who is more than 18 years old.

All schools that offer homestay programs follow specific protocols and guidelines. It means that they find a homestay in Canada for international students, support and help them to adjust to a new culture, regularly check host families, and offer other kinds of supervision.

It can be difficult to find a homestay in Canada for a newcomer. Therefore, schools put effort into placing international students in an appropriate homestay. They gather information about students and host families and then match them according to common values and interests.

To be more specific about the procedure of selecting host families, here are some important facts that may help you to feel more confident when choosing this option of accommodation in Canada. They are screened and expected to provide an inviting and caring home; offer healthy meals every day if it is included in the homestay arrangement; prepare a private furnished bedroom with a study area; support and encourage dreams and desires of students; invite them to participate in family events and community holidays.

If you consider the option to find a homestay in Canada, you should be sure that you are going to live in a safe and supportive family. Thus, all Canadian homestay families meet the following criteria:

1. They are ready to accept an international student as a member of their family.
2. They have to speak English or French as their first language.
3. They follow the protocols and requirements of being a homestay family.
4. They have completed a detailed reference check process.
5. They have passed a criminal record reference check.
6. They are interested in learning about other cultures and traditions.

When a homestay application of an international student has been processed, the student and host family are provided with contact information. They also receive an orientation package of information about homestay.

Types of Homestays

If you want to find a homestay in Canada, you should know more about the types available. The full-board type of homestay means that you will have a full meal plan. In other words, you will enjoy having breakfast, lunch, and dinner with your host family. The half-board type of homestay means that you will have your breakfast and dinner taken care of by your homestay family. However, it is up to you where to have lunch during your homestay. The Roomstay type of homestay offers you full independence. You will need to buy your food and prepare your meals since you will have access to the kitchen. Also, you have the option to eat out. However, the roomstay type of homestay is available only for international students who are more than 18 years old.

Services to Find Homestay in Canada

As a rule, you do not have to find a homestay in Canada by yourself since your school matches you with a family, who wants to host an international student. In other words, the school administration chooses host families, assigns students to them, and maintains direct contact with the families and students throughout the study year. But it is worth mentioning, that your homestay can also be organized through our company, that cooperates with Canadian schools, international students, and host families to provide each side with the best experience. Each family has a screen, regarding the future safe stay of international student with particular family. Also, any homestay and accommodation services in Canada will be provided only after student get approval for visa to Canada. It should be mentioned, that each minsor student must have custodianship in Canada for study visa and admission to the school, which in most cases should be ordered separately from our company.

Benefits of Living with a Canadian Family

When you wonder whether you need to find a homestay in Canada, you should assess its benefits. Usually, homestay programs are attractive to parents who send their children to Canadian schools that do not offer on-campus accommodation. Moreover, international students and their parents want to find a homestay in Canada since it is a chance to get an authentic cultural experience, including real language immersion experience.

Though it is not a requirement for a host family to have a child enrolled in the local school, it can be a benefit for the international students. Local children know more about the peculiarities of studying in Canadian schools and can give international students useful pieces of advice. Moreover, if you find a homestay in Canada with a person of your age, it can be your chance to make a lifelong friend.

The other benefit of living with a Canadian family is the improvement of your language skills. You will spend quality time with your host family, participate in family activities and become closer to the local community. In other words, you should find a homestay in Canada if you want to improve your language proficiency and immerse yourself in a new culture. In fact, the homestay program has reciprocal benefits since the international student gets a safe and private accommodation while the host family meets and gets to know someone from another culture.

Fees

Homestay accommodation can cost a little more than other types of housing in Canada. However, you will have more time for your studies since the cooking and cleaning are taken care of by your host family. According to the Canada Homestay Network, a homestay accommodation can cost you from $900 CAD up to $1,200 CAD per month. The price can vary depending on location, the number of meals, and included facilities. Thus, you will be able to find a homestay in Canada that offers the best performance and value to you.

General Rules and Obligations of Homestay

When you find a homestay in Canada, you need to ask about the specific rules of the family. However, there are general rules of homestay, such as the responsibility to abide by all rules of the home and respecting the family’s space. In their turn, the family will respect your privacy and culture. Speaking about the obligations of the homestay parents, they are responsible for providing a friendly environment and ensuring that you arrive at school each day on time and are prepared to study. The host family must also take care of you, just as they would of their own children.

If you need help to find Homestay in Canada, please fill in application below or contact us directly.