Policies and guidelines

These are the guidelines for International Students and each individual student who is part of the Homestay Program. Please read the following, Students agree to the following in order to participate in Homestay Program:

1. Any student under the age of 16 years is considered a minor.
2. Any minor student in the care of a homestay family who feels uncomfortable about the intentions of any resident in the homestay can request a change of residence and be changed within 24 hours. Please do not hesitate to contact 647-620-8398.
3. All students must be aware of, and abide by the rules and regulations of their homestay family (Rules will vary family to family). Students are responsible for cleaning their own bedroom and cleaning up after themselves in the household, such as doing the dishes, keeping your bedroom neat and tidy at all times, Clean up after yourself from common areas (Washroom, Dinning area and living Room). Use of illegal drugs or involvement in any illegal activities will end your participation in the Homestay program with immediate effect.
4. Please do not use the bathtub or the washroom sink to wash your clothes and do not hang wet clothes in your room as this can damage the floors, damages will be at the students expense
5. Students are responsible for the protection of their own belongings. Make sure you don’t leave them in common areas as your host can have two students at the same time and leaving it out in the open can be tempting to some people.
6. Students must inform/contact their homestay family if he/she will be late for meals, is absent for a night or for a weekend. Students must also notify their homestay family of when they are going on trips, as well as when their last day of staying in homestay will be. Always tell your hosts if you will be away overnight, and leave a telephone number where you can be contacted. Always tell your host if you will not be home for the evening meal, or if you will be arriving home late in the evening. Curfew times (if under 18 student must be home by 11 PM). For students over 19 most homestays do not have curfew, but if you arrive home late try to be as quiet as possible. No noise after 10:00 pm. Other people in the house might be sleeping by this time of night. Taking showers, accepting phone calls, doing laundry, talking loudly, listening to loud music, etc. is considered rude.
7. Each student must arrange their own daily transportation to and from school. Host families are not responsible for taking students to or from school. Students have access to Toronto’s public transit system for transportation purposes. Students are responsible for paying for travel and personal expenses should he/she accompany their homestay family on activities or trips, but not pay for the meals if they occur during the homestay meal time. That is, this meal counts as a homestay meal, and thus should not be paid for by the student. If you choose to participate in family holidays and/or travel where costs are incurred, you are expected to assist in bearing the costs.
8. Students are responsible for their own toiletries (soap, toothpaste, shampoo etc.) personal purchases. You have to purchase your own toiletries and personal items.
9. All students must receive permission from their host parents to make long distance phone calls from the homestay family’s personal house phone. Calls can be made using a long distance calling card which must be purchased by the student. Students should use the phone for reasonable lengths of time.
10. Students must ask and receive permission from their host parents to bring friends over to the homestay household. Do not invite your friends to stay for meals or overnight unless your host family agrees.
11. Students are NOT allowed to consume alcohol at the homestay family’s house, unless it is permitted by the host parents and the student is 19 years or over. Any drug usage is strictly forbidden and will result in legal fine or arrest. No smoking in the house or Illegal drugs, drunkenness and unauthorized overnight guests are not allowed.
12. Breakfast: During the week, breakfast is usually self-serve and consists of cereal or toast with jam or cream cheese, or waffles, with juice or tea or coffee. On the weekends, families often have brunch (a late breakfast, early lunch). This can be more elaborate and may consist of pancakes, eggs, bacon, juice or coffee. Be prepared to make your own breakfast and lunch (food will be provided). Your family will prepare the meal for supper.
13. Lunch: Most family members make their own lunch and you may be asked to pack your own lunch for school. In some cases, your host will make your lunch for you. A packed lunch usually consists of a sandwich, a piece of fruit, potato chips, cake or cookies and a juice.
14. Dinner: Dinner is prepared by the host family and is often the largest meal of the day. Most families try to eat this meal together usually at about 6:00 or 7:00P.M. So be sure to arrive on time for dinner. Whenever possible, let your host family know beforehand if you will be late or if you will not be home for dinner.
15. Snacks: Your host will show you what snacks are available for between meals.
16. Get to know your new family and get familiar with the Canadian way of living. Respect the host and other people in the house treat the host like you would your parent. I encourage you to get in touch with your host before arrival.
17. Communicate with your host to avoid hostility and don’t be shy. Understand that although Canadian families are busy (both parents may work), staying with a family is an excellent way for you to practice your English and learn about Canadian culture.
18. Treat your host mother and father with respect – you are not living in a hotel, and your host mother and father are not servants.
19. Take a shower at night so the washroom is free in the morning for other people in the house. Time limit for the shower is between 10 – 15 Minutes. Families must pay for cold and hot water, and these costs are expensive. Also, hot water is limited and must be shared by the family.
20. Travelling with your host family is permitted, but you are not allowed to go on trips alone or with other students unless you obtain permission from the Homestay Coordinator and from the International Services Offices of Lethbridge School District.
21. Your host family is not permitted to charge you extra fees. Do not pay money to your homestay family. In a situation in which you have caused damage in the home or accrued a long distance phone charge, extra payment to the host family may be required but only after instructions to do so are provided.
22. Smokers must respect their host family’s rules about smoking inside the home. In most cases students will be requested to smoke outside. Students are expected to respect this rule at all times.
23. Students are not allowed to borrow/drive the homestay family’s vehicle. Under no circumstance will this be acceptable. Driving a vehicle is not permitted.
24. Lock the doors and windows and turn off the lights when you leave the Homestay each time. Turn the lights off when you are not in your room and from the common areas if no one else is there.
25. Do not lose the house key. If you do you have to pay to make another key.
26. Each student is liable for any damages they have caused to the host family’s property, and must immediately reimburse the host family for the damages incurred. Damage to Property: If you neglectfully, accidentally, or willfully damage property at home, you are responsible or if you are a minor your parents will be notified and billed for the amount of the damage.
27. If students wish to prepare a meal for themselves, they must ask for the host parent’s permission when using household appliances and kitchen supplies.
28. Extra homestay nights are prorated based on their meal plan. This is to be paid to Home for You, as we handle all payments for its homestay families. It is the responsibility of every student to pay for extra nights of Homestay if needed. Students must first notify their host parents of the need to extend their stay, and then make their payment to Home for You.
29. The Homestay Program represents host families from many different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. Due to the high multiculturalism in Toronto we show appreciation for different nationalities, any request from students in regards to their host family’s ethnicity or cultural background will not be accommodated.
30. Switching homestay families within the first week of arrival (probation period) is acceptable. However, if students wish to move to another Homestay family after their probation period, they must give Home for You Student Services Coordinator and their host parents at least 2 weeks’ notice. Students requesting to switch host families must provide sufficient reasons to the Student Services Coordinator. If proper notice and reasons are not given a switch will not be possible. After that a fee of $200.00 will be charged to the student for each change.
31. Every student is responsible for informing the Student Services Coordinator of any concerns, issues or problems with Homestay as soon as the situation/circumstance arises. If students do not report the problems they are having, Home for You will not be able to help. If a problem arises talk to your host and if you do not resolve the problem call your agent in Toronto, or your custodian if you are a minor.

Additional $50 per week will be charged for special diet and minors / $30 per week for summer (Jun - Aug)

Prices are worked out on a 28 night period with the option of extra nights/weeks and differ depending on the meal option of the student. Our policy is that no deduction is made in homestay fee if you temporarily leave the homestay for vacation.

Welcome to Canada! if you have any further questions or concerns, please contact me.

Sebastiaan Welvering
Student Homestay Coordinator
+1 647 620 8398