15 years of great Homestay service in Los Angeles.  As all homes are personally
   screened for suitability, space is limited.  Apply today to make sure you reserve a
   great homestay!

• What is Homestay?
• What geographical areas do we cover?
• Who are the homestay hosts?
• How do you place me in a home?
• Can I use a computer to access the Internet?
• What expectations should I have of homestay?
• What is the difference between homestay, hostels, and hotels?
• Is Homestay only for students?
• Is Homestay only for international guests?
• How much experience does San Francisco Homestay have?
• Student Guidelines. 

What is Homestay?

Homestay is a safe and affordable housing option for international students, interns, and visiting professionals. 

For international students, it is an opportunity to live in a friendly home with an American family, experience American lifestyle and culture firsthand, and practice English language skills. 

For U.S. interns and visiting professionals, it is a convenient and economical housing solution.

Homestay is an especially attractive option for stays that range from a few weeks to several months.

Homestay provides guests with:

• A private or shared bedroom: includes linens, bed, desk & lamp, and a place for clothing. 
• A private or shared bathroom. 
• Cleaning of linens & towels. 
• Meals (continental breakfast & dinner) if purchased, or, kitchen privileges to prepare meals. Lunch and snacks are not included. 

What geographical areas do we cover?

US Housing Services places guests directly through our network of hosts in Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Pacific Palisades.  We also place guests in San Francisco, through our partners in the city. We pre-select our hosts for convenient locations and great families.
 
 

We carefully screen all homestays and are the ONLY service that allows you to look at pictures of your accomodation once your application has been accepted.  We regularly visit every home, meet the families, and continually evaluate our hosts to ensure that our high standards are met. All hosts are located in safe and convenient areas. English is always the primary language used in the home. Our hosts truly enjoy hosting and are eager to welcome guests in their home.

American families are diverse. As we abide by federal, state and local laws, we do not discriminate. This means that our families reflect the diversity of the Los Angeles population. They could be: 

• Two parent families. 
• Single parent families. 
• Widows. 
• Single individuals. 
• Extended families (relatives living with the family or individual). 
• A variety of races and nationalities. 
• People with pets or children 

How do you place me in a home?

Your application gives us some basic personal characteristics that we use to match you with an available host home.  You will notice that the application asks for a lot of information, and this is to ensure you are placed with a family whose interests and activities match your own. 

You will be placed based upon the following information: Your gender, native language, age, smoking habits, allergies and certain religious or medical dietary restrictions, and commute time to your school or company. We try our best to accommodate any additional preferences that you indicate in your application. 

We will make every effort to accommodate any additional preferences that you indicate in your application.  We may find in order to meet them, we must upgrade you to a more expensive level of homestay.

Americans love having domestic pets in their homes. The most common house pets are cats, dogs, and, birds. Many families have pets. Most American pets are very well groomed and flea free. If you wish to move into a Family without pets, please indicate it on your application, and we will accommodate your request. 

Can I use a computer to access the Internet?

Some homes allow Internet access, but some do not. We do not guarantee Internet availability in our homes, unless specifically provided under an executive homestay package. If as a guest you are allowed to access the Internet, please follow our homestay and host guidelines regarding usage. 

Please remember that the use of the phone line often limits access to the phone for other family members and guests. Be sensitive to the needs of others in your home.

What expectations should I have of homestay?

Homestay is an affordable housing option in which you choose to live in someone's home. This is a very different experience than staying in a hotel and requires a different set of expectations. 

The nature of the home and the family will vary as America is a diverse nation, but all homestay homes will be safe, clean and close to public transportation. You will be able to practice your English in conversations with your host during shared time in the home, such as dinner time. Many Americans have busy work and personal lives. Families might not eat together every evening. 

Because this is someone's private home, you will be expected to abide by the same reasonable rules of behavior that family members follow. The homestay agency and the family set these rules. Please make certain that you understand these rules explained in the Student Guidelines. 

If there are accommodation problems that you need help solving, we will help solve the issues. We want you to feel comfortable and have a pleasant experience. 

What is the difference between homestay, hostels, and hotels?

In homestay, you live in the home of an American family. You get to experience a more personal accommodation than a hotel or a residence club. You will be asked to abide by certain reasonable standards of behavior that all family members and guests follow. Please refer to both the "Student Guidelines" following this section and those house rules in your homestay. However, should you prefer to stay in a hostel, we can help you secure the one that best fits your individual requirements.

Is Homestay only for students?

No, many corporate interns, university professors, and other professionals visiting the area for several weeks also choose Homestay as their preferred means of accommodation. Homestay provides them with an excellent way to get better acclimated to their new cultural environment in Los Angeles. 

Is Homestay only for international guests?

No.  While many of our guests are from all around the world, homestay also proves a great experience for students that are not international.  Many guests, away from home, cherish the family environment no matter where they are from.  It is an affordable and enjoyable alternative to living on your own and provides an excellent way to get better acclimated to their new environment in Los Angeles. 

How much experience does Universal Student Housing Services have?

US Housing Services has operated in Southern California for close to 15 years and has successfully placed students, interns, and visiting professionals from Asia, Europe, South America and Africa in convenient, safe, and enjoyable homestays. Many of our guests hear about us through word-of-mouth. We have easy access to people fluent in many foreign languages, including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, and Spanish. As we screen our homestay families and carefully match students with their homestay families, it has been our experience that everyone is very happy.