Host Family Requirements:
Learn More About Hosting
Hosting an international student is an opportunity to open your home, share your culture, and make a meaningful difference in a young person’s life. It is also an experience that brings new perspectives, lasting relationships, and a deeper understanding of the world into your home.
At OCEAN, we work with families from a wide range of backgrounds and household types. What matters most is not having a “perfect” family, but providing a safe, stable, and welcoming environment where a student can feel supported.
What It Means to Be a Host Family
Host families welcome an international student into their home and include them in daily life. This includes sharing meals, helping the student adjust to routines, and offering guidance and encouragement throughout their stay.
Hosting does not require special qualifications or prior experience. The most important qualities are reliability, openness, and a genuine willingness to support a student as they adapt to a new culture.
Who Can Host
Host families come in many forms. OCEAN welcomes:
Families with children, couples without children at home, single adults, empty nesters, and retirees.
Successful host families are those who are dependable, flexible, and interested in building a positive relationship with their student.
What Host Families Provide
Host families are expected to provide a safe and welcoming home environment, along with room and board for the duration of the student’s stay. Each student must have their own bed, and in some cases may share a bedroom with a same-gender host sibling, depending on program guidelines.
In addition to meeting basic requirements, host families play an important role in helping students feel included in everyday life. This may include inviting them to participate in family activities, introducing them to community life, and offering support as they adjust.
What Students Are Responsible For
International students come prepared for their stay and are responsible for their personal expenses. This typically includes items such as clothing, school supplies, personal care items, and other day-to-day spending.
Why Families Choose to Host
Families choose to host for many reasons. Some are interested in learning about another culture, while others want to provide guidance and support to a student experiencing life in the United States for the first time.
Hosting often leads to meaningful, long-term connections and provides families with a unique and rewarding experience.
Support Throughout the Program
OCEAN provides support to host families before, during, and after a student’s placement. Families are never expected to manage the experience on their own.
Support includes guidance prior to placement, access to local coordinators, ongoing communication, and assistance with any questions or concerns that may arise. Emergency support is also available when needed.
Our goal is to ensure that both families and students feel informed, supported, and confident throughout the program.
How the Process Works
The hosting process begins with an initial inquiry, followed by a conversation with the OCEAN team to discuss expectations and answer questions. Families then complete the required screening and approval steps.
Once approved, families are matched with a student based on compatibility and program needs. Before the student arrives, families receive information and preparation guidance to help ensure a smooth transition.
Are you Ready?
For families ready to move forward, application materials are available here to begin the matching process.