<-- Resources

Be a Host Family

Our Host Family Program

For more than 20 years families in this community have opened their homes and hearts to our students. Families who have hosted students from many different countries tell us that it is like traveling the world without leaving this valley. Some host families correspond regularly with students who lived in their homes as long as 15 years ago. Others have visited their former students in their home countries. Students come from all over the United States and from even further to visit their American "moms and dads."

As a host family, you will be a vitally important part of our program. Not only will you provide a secure living environment, you will serve as an example of how Americans speak and live.

We try very hard to match students’ interests to those of their host families. Host families provide food for three meals a day (usually dinner is a family meal), a single room, laundry facilities, transportation to and from school (if the home is more than a mile away) and a priceless opportunity for the student to practice English and learn about American life.

Currently the cost for homestay is $460 per month plus a $100 non-refundable placement fee.

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Who are Our Students?

Students from around the world study at Lewis-Clark State College. Right now, the largest number is from Asia. Most students are in their early to mid 20s but the ages range from the upper teens to the mid 60s. You may be assigned a student who is not what you had envisioned. But keep an open mind and you may be delightfully surprised.

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Criteria for Selecting a Host Family

It takes a very special family to host an international student successfully. In selecting our host families, we look for the following qualities.

• Sincere interest in learning about other cultures.
• Willingness to treat the student as a member of the family.
• Willingness to devote time to talking and doing things with the student.
• Openness to accepting students of any race, culture or religion.
• Flexibility, understanding, patience and willingness to listen and work out differences.
• Willingness to cooperate with the International Programs staff.

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Reasons for Finding a Family Unacceptable

We are sometimes approached by families whose motivations or living situations make them unacceptable as hosts for our students. Below are some reasons a family might not make a good host.

• Family desires to host students only for monetary reasons.
• Family has serious personal problems such as a major illness of a family member or a divorce in progress.
• Family is unable to transport students (if home is more than a mile from campus).
• Family has rigid rules.
• Family shows prejudice against people from other cultures.
• Home is unsafe or unclean.
• Home does not have adequate facilities (eg. no private bedroom).

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Facilities and Services Provided by Family

Bedroom - The student must have a private room for sleep and study with a door that locks from the inside. If there are children under 10 years of age in the home, the door must also lock from the outside. The room must have adequate heat, cooling, light and ventilation. The room must contain a comfortable bed, a dresser, a desk or table, a chair and a window.

Bathroom - The student may share a bathroom with other family members if he or she has a place for personal grooming items.

Laundry - Students are expected to do their own laundry and will need laundry facilities, supplies and instructions on how to use the washer and dryer.

Kitchen - Students should have access to the kitchen for meals and snacks as would any adult family member. You will need to see that your student has enough to eat. Students are often reluctant to tell you about specific foods they like or dislike. Encourage them to talk about food and be alert to their requests. For example, Asian students really like rice. They would be happy if they could have it with every meal (even breakfast). Take your students with you to the grocery store. When students fix their own snacks or have friends over, they are expected to clean up after themselves.

Telephone – Students should follow your house rules concerning use of the telephone. They are responsible for paying for any long distance calls they make. If your student does not have a cell phone, he/she should buy a calling card, which can be purchased in most stores.

Transportation - You are to pick up the student at the airport or bus depot. IIE rarely gets more than a week's notice of an exact arrival time and date. Some students apply and don't show up; others show up without warning. Such uncertainty can be frustrating and we appreciate your patience and understanding.

If you live more than one mile from campus, you are responsible for transporting your student to and from school or for providing an alternative form of transportation that is acceptable to the student.

If the student drives, and you provide a car, you and the student will need to work out arrangements concerning who pays for registration, insurance, repairs, and other expenses. To avoid misunderstandings, it is advisable to make a written agreement before the student drives your car.

If the student wants to ride a bicycle to school, and you provide the bicycle, it is advisable to make a written agreement concerning repairs and who is responsible if the bicycle is stolen.

Students sometimes need additional transportation to a night class or the library. You can expect to provide transportation to other functions from time to time as you would for a family member who does not drive. You and the student should be flexible enough to work out mutually acceptable arrangements.

Banking - You should help your student open a checking account. To open an account, the student needs to have the money or traveler's checks to be deposited and his or her passport. The student should use your address for banking purposes.

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IIE Host Family Program Guidelines: A Quick Reference Guide

1. Airport Pickup- The IIE staff will inform you of the ETA for your student. Picking up the student at the airport is a part of the host family’s responsibility and is included in the monthly payment.
2. Payment- Students now pay the family directly. The homestay fee is $420 per month (first day through last day of the month). For periods less than a month, students will pay $14 per day.
3. Bedrooms- Supply a private bedroom for the student. Supply each student with his or her own bed, dresser, closet and a place to study. The bedroom should be sufficiently cool in summer and warm in winter.
4. Food- Provide food for three meals per day seven days a week. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be available.
5. Breakfast- For breakfast and lunch, you may simply provide the fixings for the student to prepare his/her own meal. Please make sure your student knows how to use the kitchen appliances and how to prepare the food you offer.
6. Sit-down Meal- The evening meal should be a sit-down meal shared with the student on most evenings.
7. Delivered Food- If you order food to be delivered in place of a home-cooked meal, the student should not be asked to pay.
8. Transportation- Make sure your student knows how to get to the IIE office from your home. If you live more than a mile from campus, provide transportation to and from school.
9. Testing & Orientation- See that the student is at the IIE office by the designated time on the first Monday of the term for testing and orientation.
10. Smoking- Students are not to smoke inside the house, unless it is OK with the host.
11. Alcohol Consumption- Students under 21 may not consume alcohol in or outside the home. Students 21 or older may do so if invited by the host.
12. Clean Rooms- Students are responsible for keeping their rooms clean at all times. Students should also clean up after themselves in all other rooms of the home, especially the bathroom. However, students should not be asked to do major housecleaning.
13. Laundry- Please show the student how to use the family laundry facilities.
14. Long Distance Telephone Calls- Rules for making long distance phone calls are an individual matter. The host may require a deposit from the student. Calling cards are recommended. It is highly recommended that the host check with their long distance phone company BEFORE the student leaves so the host will be aware of any calls made from their phone. The host can also block their long distance phone calls by calling their long distance company.
15. Overnight Guests- Students may have overnight guests in their room, with your permission. Families may set their own policies concerning other visitors.
16. Curfews- Hosts should establish a curfew for safety reasons for students under 18 years of age. Other students should be treated as adults.
17. Outings- Students are expected to pay their own way whenever invited to join the hosts in an outing.
18. Religious Activities- Hosts are encouraged to invite the student to accompany them to functions outside the home, including religious services or activities. The student may choose to accept or decline the invitation. Proselytizing, however, is not permitted.
19. House Rules- A list of house rules may be posted in the student's room or given to the student upon arrival, but communication is the best way to let a student know what you do and don't expect of them.
20. Absentee Hosts- Hosts of students 18 or older may be absent for a few days, provided alternative eating arrangements are made and the student feels comfortable about the absence. You may list additional rules for this period and review these rules with the student.
21. Medical Insurance- All students are required to have LCSC medical insurance. In the event a student becomes ill or has an accident, refer him or Student Health Services, SGC 42 (792-2251) on the LCSC campus. In order to be reimbursed by their health insurance provider, students must first go to Health Services, who will then refer them to a local doctor. If your student becomes sick, or has an accident on the weekend or evening, you can take him/her to the emergency room or your doctor, but you need to call the Health Center (792-2251) to leave a message. Otherwise, the student's health insurance will not pay.
22. Emergency Contacts- Please ask your student to give you the name, address, and telephone number of a relative who should be contacted in case of an emergency. Also contact the director of the IIE at 208-792-2321.
23. Airport Departure- Please arrange for the student to arrive at the airport on time for his or her departure.

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Host Family Application

If you are interested in becoming an IIE host family, please fill out the Host Family Application (PDF) and return it to the IIE office with a picture of your family.

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