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How to Qualify

HomebaseUS leads the industry in matching students with families that share their values and interests. Qualifying includes steps to ensure that both the student and the host family have the best possible experience. Our students undergo rigorous qualification to be sure that they are ready for this exciting, and sometimes challenging transition, and to assure our host families that the student placed in their home is safe and trustworthy.

The process to qualify as a host family takes the same measures to assure our students a safe and comfortable place. Qualification includes the following activities:

- Background check. Families that include a household member with prior criminal judgments against them will be disqualified.
- Home inspection. An inspection of your home verifies that it is safe and free of hazards, provides the student with private sleeping quarters, and adequate access to other facilities like bathroom, kitchen, and storage for personal items.
- Family profile. You will complete a profile that lists details about your home and lifestyle, such as how many children you have and their ages, whether you have pets, your religion, and activities you enjoy as a family. The profile is used to match students to the best home by seeking to identify matches as well as mismatches early.
- Contract. Once you've passed the background check and home inspection, you will sign a contract agreeing to provide the services outlined in What Hosts Provide. The contract also includes detailed information about the stipend you will receive for hosting the student.
- Guardianship. Once you've been qualified, you will sign for legal guardianship of your student, if that student is a minor. Guardianship allows you to act on behalf of the student regarding health issues, school attendance, and other aspects of American life that require guardian approval.
- Host guide. You will receive a handbook for hosting that outlines basic expectations, contact information for voicing concerns, and on rare occasions solving problems with students. The host guide also includes tips for helping your student integrate, and frequently asked questions.