Homestay Hosting in Wisconsin

A homestay is a local family that opens their home to host international students while they study English at WESLI. Families "live life" with these students, inviting them into their daily routines, conversations, and activities. They will become part of your family!

• Provide a friendly, comfortable, and welcoming environment.
• Private Bedroom for the student (bed, dresser, study desk, adequate lighting).
• Private or Shared Bathroom.
• Access to laundry facilities.
• Wifi available.
• Near bus line or other mode of public transport.
• Pets and children in home is ok.
• Meals - all meals for Juniors, most meals for Adults (or option for no meal hosting).
• Homestay hosts need to be diplomatic, aware of cultural differences, and open-minded.

Students may stay with a host family anywhere between one week and one year.

Our Junior students tend to stay for shorter timeframes, normally for 2 weeks and up to 3 months.

Students choose homestay because they feel it is the best way to learn about American culture and it provides the greatest opportunity for them to practice speaking English.

Therefore, the most important requirements for a homestay family are a genuine desire to host an international student and flexibility.

For most of our students, this is their first taste of “authentic America,” as well as the first time being away from home. While they are eager, it may take some time to dispel their Hollywood images of U.S. lifestyles and culture. Each student is also an individual with a cultural background that is most likely quite different from U.S. culture, and each student has particular needs, preferences, and lifestyles. It is important that homestay hosts be adaptable.

Homestay hosts may expect the student to contribute to maintaining the household atmosphere, and WESLI expects that the homestay host will help the student become acclimated to American life.

Students are normally expected to clean their own rooms and do their own laundry. If a homestay host wants to provide the student with a list of household rules, that is fine; however, the student is only responsible for cleaning up after him/herself.

Homestays are expected to eat dinner with the student at least five times per week, more if possible, so that a sense of family and community can be shared. This may mean cooking together, ordering take-out or delivery, or making separate meals but eating at the same time. Weeknights are preferred, but if not, all nights are possible. Any meal over the weekend could be shared with the student. We understand homestay hosts are busy, but an essential part of hosting is welcoming the student into American life and sharing meals and conversation. Students can make their own breakfast and lunch with the food provided.

Read more in the Homestay Host Agreement.

1. Provide a friendly, comfortable, and tolerant atmosphere for the student. Homestay hosts must be diplomatic, aware of cultural differences, and open-minded.
2. Provide a clean and organized home. If a student complains that the home is unclean, the Housing Coordinator will call the host and may visit to inspect. The student may be moved to a different housing arrangement.
3. Provide the student with a private room, storage space for clothing, and a reasonably quiet space for studying. A desk in the bedroom is suggested unless there are other quiet places for the student to study.
4. Provide five meals a week for the student. If the student complains that the host family is not providing adequate meals, the Housing Coordinator will directly contact the host family and inquire about this.
5. Speak only English with the student and engage students in conversation on a regular basis. One of the main reasons students choose to live with homestays is for opportunities to talk, practice English, and learn about American culture.
6. Have WiFi and Internet access.
7. Not require a student to participate in or observe any religious holidays, ceremonies, or services. Students may be invited but they are not required to go.
8. The home must be accessible to downtown Madison by bus. Households must be on or very close to a Madison Metro bus line, as most students do not own a car.

Before accepting students, potential homestay hosts are required to fill out an application and consent to a background check. The background check will ensure the host does not have a criminal record or any other charges against them.

After the application and background check are processed, the housing coordinator will conduct an interview and a home visit to ensure a comfortable and safe living environment for future students. The Housing Coordinator will take photos to keep on file and to send to any potential future students.

We will then send a confirmation to the homestay host regarding their acceptance. Once accepted, the housing coordinator will be in contact with you when an opportunity to host a student arises.

Please note that homestay hosting is not a source of income, nor are you likely to be consistently hosting. There is no guarantee that a student will be placed in your particular homestay, or that a student will stay for their expected period of time.

Students will pay WESLI for their housing costs and WESLI will pay homestay hosts a monthly stipend at the start of each month. WESLI will mail or ACH deposit a check on or near the first of the month. Rent includes room and board (a private bedroom and most food).

If the student has special dietary needs, he or she must pay for those groceries. In most cases, homestays can expect to purchase what they normally would from the grocery store, and share it with the student.

The amount of the stipend will vary depending on packages sold to groups or individuals. It ranges from $630-$800 per month.

Students and homestay hosts must not make other payment arrangements. Students must always pay for their housing costs at WESLI and never directly to the homestay host.

WESLI will collect a $200 security deposit from each homestay student. This money will be returned to the student when they move out of your home. The student forfeits part or all of their security deposit if he or she leaves their bedroom messy, or damages anything.

Please contact the Homestay Coordinator when your student leaves if these circumstances arise, so that you can be compensated for any damages. Security deposit issues occasionally occur, but are usually resolved pleasantly.

WESLI from time to time allows students to change homestay families or to change their housing accommodation upon request. In a non-emergency situation, the student is required to inform WESLI of their intent to change accommodation. When the request is approved by the Housing Coordinator, WESLI will inform the host family and will give two-weeks notice of their departure.

In emergency situations, students will be removed from the homestay immediately and placed in an alternative accommodation. Emergency situations can include the student feeling discomfort, the home being too messy, inadequate meals provided, or any other situation in which the student feels uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe.

WESLI asks homestay families to be flexible and understanding in regards to change requests as students do change their accommodation for a variety of reasons, and are living outside of their own family home or country for the first time.

WESLI students are usually highly motivated individuals who come to America to improve their English. However, there are occasions in which a host family may be unhappy or uncomfortable with their student’s behavior. If this occurs, we ask that the host family please immediately inform the Housing Coordinator. The Housing Coordinator will meet with the student and discuss their behavior. If the behavior does not improve or at the host family’s request, WESLI may remove the student from the home and place them into a different housing arrangement.

Students are frequently in contact with WESLI staff and update us on their homestay experiences. If you wish to inform us of your experience, please feel free to do so! If you ever have any questions or concerns, or any issues with your homestay student, please contact us. We are here to provide support for any situation.