Home to stay program

It is important that you make the right decision in choosing a qualified homestay company. Sometimes your school will set you up with a homestay program directly. If not, you will need to do some of your own research to help you find the right homestay program for you. When applying to a homestay program you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire before you are connected with a host family. Most homestays that you will have to choose from during your search are locally based, however, we have partnered with one national organization, American Homestay Network, that offers homestays in many US cities.

AHN places students in a home to provide a comfortable and safe place to start their American experience. AHN is committed to the safety of the international students who use their services, and every homestay host with AHN is required to complete a comprehensive certification program including: in-home interviews, training and assessments, national background checks, home inspections, and routine communications with local AHN managers. Students who homestay through the American Homestay Network AHN can count on being provided a private bedroom, internet access, and an agreed-upon meal plan.

Start Here. There are many reasons that homestays are a great solution for international students, including:. When first arriving in the US things can be confusing and difficult, however, your homestay host is able to assist with local guidance like transport, shopping, banking as well as introducing and assisting with networks, mentoring, local culture, etc. Also, beginning your adventure with a homestay program allows students to jump right into their studies without the worries of finding housing, furniture and signing leases all from overseas.

The families offering their house as a homestay are typically not doing it for financial gain so they can be excellent economical accommodation options. Homestays are often the most economical accommodation option because cost of room and board generally includes meals, laundry facilities, and occasionally some light cleaning services.

You may also be provided with a guaranteed number of meals a day, which will save you money in groceries, and allow you to splurge a little on fun excursions and souvenirs during your stay not to mention try local dishes and foods! Staying with a local family will really submerge you into that culture and life. Homestay programs provide students with a more authentic cultural experience.

In most cases you will spend evenings and free time with your host family, having meals and social time with them, and experiencing daily life in your host country.

Living with host families will provide you with more opportunities to experience local cuisine, as well as local events and places that most tourists and other visitors to the country will be unaware of.

Additionally, host families can serve as tour guides and give you tips on how to get by in your new environment. One of the best ways to learn a new language is to be fully immersed in the language, and there is no better way of immersing yourself than with a homestay! If you are living in a dormitory or hostel, you will almost inevitably fall amongst people who speak your native language.

In a homestay program, you will be required to converse in the native language of your host country, allowing you to improve your language skills. Your host family will most likely be thrilled to help you practice your skills. Engaging in daily conversation in your new language can be more helpful in building conversational skills than any class, and having strong language skills will make living in a foreign country far easier; you will be better able to explore the country and meet new people.

In , their funding enabled the program, now called Home to Stay to serve episodically homeless families. Community Solutions and three other organizations each work with 30 episodically homeless families a year. Home to Stay uses Family Critical Time Intervention, a technique developed to assist single adults with disabilities in transitioning from homelessness that we adapted to our work with homeless families. Family Critical Time Intervention FCTI is a phased intervention over the crucial first nine months after families secure housing, and is designed to prevent recidivism.

The first phase concentrates on housing placement and relationship building ; the second phase connects families to community resources in their new neighborhood; and the final phase transitions families to independent housing stability and healthy community interdependence.

When we met the Melendez family in shelter, Ms. Melendez was extremely anxious about locating housing and was involved in a shady deal for an apartment that the family could not afford. Members of the family were stressed, and became combative with other shelter residents and staff.

Our contacts with local landlords resulted in the family securing an affordable apartment, and their Advocate helped them to create a realistic budget to maintain their home for the long term. FCTI works when it is used appropriately, with key supports in place: Family workers handle a small caseload of approximately 15 families in different phases of transition from homelessness. Clinical support for program staff and participants is critical.

Staff are trained in motivational interviewing and resilience and strengths-based family development. Caseworkers and families focus on narrow goals, specifically targeting housing stability and the issues that led to homelessness — and make the most of resources that already exist in the family and community.

Finally, the model was designed specifically for very vulnerable families, not the majority of families who have one episode of homelessness then go on to maintain housing stability on their own.

In the final FCTI phase of solidifying connections to community resources, the Melendez family was connected with a program aimed at preventing recidivism for their son who was recently released from prison and with legal services when they had challenges getting essential repairs made to their apartment. And indications are that the Family Critical Time Intervention approach is effective in ending the cycle of homelessness for the most vulnerable families.

The experience of Home to Stay participants like the Melendez family shows that episodically and chronically homeless families can thrive and exit homelessness permanently if targeted for additional assistance and provided with comprehensive, time-limited help in building their own strengths. It is also highly cost effective. Judith Samuels and Dr. Community Solutions is a non-profit organization that works to achieve a lasting end to homelessness that leaves no one behind. Visit community portals.

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