Vancouver Homestay Family - Calgary Homestay Family
About Assist
Assist is a student services agency for students studying in. We help students from Japan find a suitable school and obtain visas to work and study in Canada. On request, we also help arrange accommodations for them. Sometimes this means registering for them at the YMCA hostel, or a hotel. Sometimes it means helping find a good Canadian family to live with. We are proud to have one of the best run homestay programs available.
FAQ
How to apply to become a homestay family:
Requirements & Expectations
Is it difficult?
Yes. Being a Homestay family is very demanding. You are expected to prepare dinner and a bag-lunch for your guest(s), everyday. Have breakfast items available for your guest(s), everyday. Of course, you will be compensated for this, because the student will pay you. But don't underestimate the amount of effort involved.Is it worth it?
Yes. We think so. The families we have worked with have lots of interesting stories. They have made new friends. They have made a positive difference in someone's life. The families we know continue doing homestays for years, and find it very rewarding.Can we be a homestay family?
We like to look at the big picture. We don't expect families to be perfect in every way. But in a nutshell, students really need to have two very simple needs met;- They want to have nice food, and
- Live in a nice environment.
You will at least need to have the following to be considered (no particular order):
1. A Clean/Clutter free environment
Students want to live in a clean, clutter-free environment - wouldnt you?If you are very active with family matters and too busy to keep a neat home, you probably wont have the kind of time necessary to devote to hosting a guest. Be realistic about your capabilities to devote resources to your guest.
2. A No Accent-Native English speaking home
Most of our students are ESL (English as a Second Language) students.Guests need to be in an environment in which to hear and use natural, native English -that is why they have come to Canada to study, and that is why they choose to live in a Homestay.
Because of this, we can only accept no-accent, native English speaking families. In exceptional cases, we may accept a family with some members who do not meet this requirement.
3. Proper Nourishment.
Meals are an important part of running a Homestay.Breakfast: is buffet style. The student will prepare for themselves. You are responsible for making available Eggs, Bread/Cereal, fresh Fruit, Juice and Milk.
Lunch: A 'High-School Style' bagged lunch. Sandwiches, snacks, fruit. Leftovers from dinner can be included. A can of juice or pop. A dessert.
Dinner: A home cooked meal. You are required to provide proper nourishment and include a reasonable amount of the food groups. A proper meal is not Kraft dinner and mashed potatoes. It is not hotdogs, pizza or frozen/pre-prepared dinners - these are exceptions.
4. Close proximity to schools (downtown)
Within 20~30mins total travel time to downtown is ideal. The more transfers, and the longer the walking distance the less likely you will be a good candidate.Money
Homestay Fee
Because we are not a Homestay company, we don't take money from the monthly Homestay fee. The student will pay directly to you. It is your home, so we let you set the rate. We recommend the rate to you, which at this time is $720 (2006). The rates and general info are posted on our website, and the students will usually pick a home they like based on the description and price.Payment
Your guest will pay you directly each month. If either party is not satisfied with the match, the host family must refund the unused portion of the homestay fee. Subject to Assist's policy, which will be explained on our visit to you.Guests
How do you match students with homes?
We present webpages to students of available rooms which match their requests. The student will choose from the choices presented to them. This gives them some ownership in the placement process. It also greatly reduces the risk of a mismatch.What does the student see? Can I see the pages?
To see examples of pages the student will see when choosing please CLICK HERE. The pages have some Japanese text, but you can get a good idea of how the system works.About the Students
Almost all of the Homestay students are from Japan.How Assist finds students
Students come to us for counseling services to find a suitable school in Canada from overseas. Most applications come in from our website. Our site is comprised of over 130 pages of information for overseas students. We assist in arranging accommodations only if requested by the students. We do not advertise Homestay.Average length of stay for Homestay participants
Typically 1 to 3 months. Sometimes 4, 5 months. Very occassionally 6 months or longer.What happens if the match is not compatible?
Homestay arrangements require some adjustment period. If problems arise that you cannot resolve between yourselves, we will ask that the student leave the home. The unused portion of the Homestay fee will be returned to the student.Apply
To apply to be a homestay family or if you have accomodations you would like to rent to students, please complete the online application below. It should take no more than 3 to 5 minutes.
Homestay Family pre-application
A simple application is available online. It shouldn't take more than 3 to 5 minutes to complete. HERE.Roomstay (Rental Room) Application
Please read: A roomstay is basically a homestay which does NOT include meals. A student will still share the house, including kitchen facilities.They will be responsible for taking care of their own food. All of the above Homestay requirements will apply with these exceptions:
- There is a higher emphasis put on travel convenience. Inconvenient travel and walking distances will not be acceptable.
- The room rates are generally: 1 month=$500, 1 week=$150, Extra days=$30/day.
- The absolute minimum stay is usually 2 weeks.
THANK YOU! for your interest in hosting a student. We certainly look forward to hearing from you!