Becoming a Host Family

Are You Thinking About Becoming a Host Family?

Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student: A Life-Changing Experience

Opening your home to a foreign exchange student is an opportunity to share cultures, build lifelong connections, and see the world through a new perspective without leaving your community. It’s a rewarding experience that enriches both your family and the student, fostering understanding, curiosity, and global friendship.

At the same time, hosting is a significant commitment that requires time, patience, and a genuine desire to support a young person’s growth far from home. It’s important to consider your family’s readiness and ensure the match is a good fit. When approached thoughtfully, hosting can be one of the most meaningful experiences your family will ever have.

Host Families FAQ

1. How can I host a foreign exchange student?

Answer: There are a couple ways to host a foreign exchange student. 

• Sign up with an approved agency to be a host family. They will handle finding a student to place with you. See our approved agency list.

• Let the district exchange coordinator know if you are interested in being a host family. They may be able to connect you to a student seeking placement. (See email at the bottom of this page). 

2. Do I get paid to be a host family?

Answer: No, host families are not paid to host a student.

3. What if having a foreign exchange student is more than we should have taken on?

Answer: Hosting a new person in your house can be a dramatic change to the lifestyle that you may accustomed to living. We encourage all potential host families to really contemplate if this is something that they would like to do. It can be extremely rewarding, but can also provide challenges. We ask host families to attempt to work through any situations that may present themselves with their foreign exchange student (and their family). If the host family does not feel like it will work, we ask them to talk with the agency that placed the student or the district's exchange coordinator for options.