We're pleased that you are considering the SLS American Homestay program. It's a great way to make friends with locals, practice your English and learn more about the American lifestyle.

Housing Coordinator

- Joanne Lee & Frani Schifferli
- 714-765-3555
- Email:homestay@scorerite.com

Homestay documents

- Student forms and guides
- Host forms and guides

Homestay procedures

Homestay participants (hosts and students) are responsible for reading and monitoring SLS homestay procedures on a regular basis. These procedures are designed to help hosts and students as they experience common issues and concerns.

If you have any questions, please contact our Homestay Coordinator using the information below. Enjoy your homestay adventure!

1. First month's accommodation fee

New homestay students pay $750 for their first month of accommodation and $250 for the arrangement fee at the time they submit their Homestay Student Application. This $750 is then sent to the student's host when the placement is confirmed.

Students are responsible to pay for only the nights they are in homestay. If they arrive in the middle of the month, it is common for students to pay a rate of $25/night for each night they are in homestay until the first of the month, at which time the previously paid $750 is good for the month.

Some hosts choose to simply use the $750 for a month from the day the students arrive. Individual arrangements can be made when host and student agree on what is most comfortable for both. Hosts are reminded that homestay income is considered taxable.

When an agreement about when and how the monthly fee will be paid, students should always pay on time, and should never wait to be asked by the host.

2. Ending a placement

Students and hosts are obligated to give one month's notice (in advance) to the other when they wish to end a placement. Please give this notice in writing. We fully encourage students and hosts to work out difficulties, but it is recognized that this is not always possible. Please contact the Housing Coordinator if you decide to end a placement.

It is also normal that at some point a host will need to be away from home. In this situation, the host is responsible for making alternative arrangements (with the approval of the Housing Coordinator) to insure their homestay student is cared for and the hosting obligations are met. Sometimes, our adult students are happy to care for themselves, but most students require more. The Housing Coordiantor can assist with options.

Attention: It is very important that hosts inform the Housing Coordinator when they plan to be away from home and/or leaving the student. Students don't always have a problem when they decide to leave homestay! Many students start in homestay to get to know the language and our city, and then choose to live independently. This is a natural development although it can be sad to say goodbye. Many students and hosts keep in touch even many years later, and it is wonderful if you can preserve this closeness. Hosts are asked to commit themselves for the time the students have indicated on their Student Profiles before a placement is confirmed. However, if the placement is unsatisfactory, hosts can end the placement in the same way that students can.

Sometimes it is necessary for the Housing Coordinator to end a homestay placement, and if this happens, then the 1 month's notice is not required. If the Facilitator has been necessarily involved in this type of action, students can be removed for the placement as quickly as needed. If students choose to leave before the one month without attention from the Housing Coordinator, they must pay the host for those days anyway.

3. Holidays

It is normal that at some point during a long term homestay placement, the homestay student will take a vacation away from Southern California.

• If a SLS homestay student plans to be away from a host's home for longer than 5 consecutive days, the homestay accommodation fee should be reduced to $12 per day.
• This reduction in fee by the host is only applicable when the student's vacation takes place in between sessions, for example between the end of Dec. and the start of Jan.
• Homestay students must discuss their vacation plans with their hosts as far in advance as possible - preferably before the fee for that month has been paid.