International students enrolled at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) have the option to live with their parents in Toronto or with Canadian host families who provide support and care during their studies.
Living with a Canadian family offers an exceptional opportunity for students to enhance their cross-cultural communication skills, both at school and in global settings. To meet students' accommodation needs, the TDSB collaborates with leading homestay service organizations in Canada. All host families are carefully vetted through a thorough due diligence process, which includes interviews, reference checks, and criminal record checks. The selection process also involves careful matching based on the preferences and requests of both the student and the host family. Each placement is confirmed in writing, accompanied by a family profile, photographs, and a location map.
Students under the age of 18 are required to have a custodian residing in the Greater Toronto Area and are not permitted to live on their own. Those aged 18 and above have the option to live independently or with host families.
For younger students in Grade 8 and below, it is mandatory to reside with their parents or custodians.
Canada Homestay Network
Canada Homestay Network (CHN)—a non-profit society founded in 1995—has helped more than 100,000 international students find homes away from home in communities across Canada. CHN is a TDSB preferred partner and has provided homestay services across the district for more than a decade, earning a unique reputation for client satisfaction, successful experiences, and the highest professional standards in the industry.
With curated host-student matches and 24/7/365 care and support, CHN offers life-changing, enriching homestay experiences for everyone involved: the opportunity for host families to bring the world to their front door; safe, predictable, and affordable accommodations for students; and trusted, custom programs for our school and agency partners.
Languages Canada Certified by Orion and Better Business Bureau accredited (A+ rating), CHN's industry-leading services include all-inclusive accommodations, student custodianship, airport transfers and medical insurance backed by our promise to work through challenges collaboratively to make things right.
Curated Homestay Experiences
- ✓ Family environment and support
- ✓ Opportunity to learn practical English
- ✓ Nutritious meals
- ✓ Furnished room including bed and desk
- ✓ Utilities, WiFi, and laundry facilities
Best-in-Class Host Screening
- ✓ Regular student homestay evaluations
- ✓ Criminal record checks for household members over 18
- ✓ Vulnerable persons checks for household members over 18 (as applicable)
- ✓ Personal reference checks
- ✓ Ongoing in-person homestay visits
Always-On Care & Support
- ✓ 24/7/365 emergency care and support
- ✓ Personalized student-host matching
- ✓ Facilitated relocations (when needed)
- ✓ Custodianship options
- ✓ First-language support in 20+ languages, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese
- ✓ Tight-knit partnerships with school and board partners
Official Website: www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca
JW Homestay
With over 10 years experiences, JW Homestay offers safe, reliable homestay placements with host checks and unlimited replacements. JW Homestay provides orientation on study permits, airport pick-up and check-ins, plus 24/7 support, pre-arrival workshops, and notarized custodianship service.
Additional services include airport shuttles, language assistance, and help with bank cards, bus passes, and SIM cards and on.
Homestay Services
- ✓ Safety: All hosts are requested to provide a criminal record for the past 12 months and must be interviewed either by face-to-face visit or virtual meeting online.
- ✓ Free replacement: We collect reviews from students and parents on their homestay experience—unlimited free replacement for those with reasonable issues.
- ✓ Orientation: 30-40 minutes of guidance to instruct students on getting their study permit at the airport, finding their pick-up driver, and what is after when checking in.
Custodianship Services
- ✓ Workshop: Orientation before entry. JW Homestay provides orientation to all students on landing procedures, school board ESL/math tests, and course selection at school before they come to Canada.
- ✓ 24/7 services: A service group includes the student, and at least one legal parent will be set up. JW Homestay provides 24/7 services. We guarantee that one of our local managers can be reached 24/7.
- ✓ Customized service packages: Documentation will be notarized within five business days. Optional shipping service can be applied when needed.
- ✓ Supports: JW Homestay assists school districts and schools, including multiple-language support for students and parents.
Official Website: www.jwhomestay.com
MLI Homestay
MLI Homestay offers Homestay services for international students attending public and private schools across Canada. Students participating in our Homestay program will have an excellent opportunity to practice and develop their English conversation skills and have a rich experience of Canadian culture and family life. We offer custodianship, homestay placement, and airport transportation services to international secondary students to make their experience in Canada a rewarding one.
MLI Homestay Provides
- ✓ A secure and stable home environment to support their studies
- ✓ An authentic language practice opportunity
- ✓ A rich experience in Canadian culture and family life
MLI Services Include
- ✓ Legal custodianship
- ✓ Homestay placement
- ✓ Roundtrip airport transfers
- ✓ Local support and activities
- ✓ Settlement and progress reports
- ✓ 24-hour emergency support
- ✓ Legal custodianship and airport transfers
Official Website: Toronto District School Board - MLI Homestay
Yes Homestay
Established in 1997, Yes Homestay is a trusted provider of high-quality homestay placements and custodianship services in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). With over 25 years of experience, we’ve built a strong reputation for creating safe, supportive, and welcoming home environments for international students. Our network includes more than 500 carefully vetted host families, selected to ensure students feel at home while studying in Canada.
Our services go beyond accommodation. We offer multilingual support—English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Vietnamese—to assist students and parents in their native languages, ensuring clear communication and peace of mind. We also provide reliable custodian services that meet Canadian legal requirements for minor students, offering families added reassurance.
Our custodians act as local guardians, maintaining communication with schools, attending academic meetings, and providing guidance to support student success. YES Homestay collaborates closely with schools, parents, and host families to monitor well-being and ensure a smooth cultural transition. Each placement is personalized to match the student’s needs, preferences, and lifestyle.
With decades of experience and a passion for international education, YES Homestay is proud to help students thrive and create lifelong memories in Canada.
Official Website: www.YesHomestay.ca