Host Family FAQs

Why should I host with the American Exchange Project?

Host families are an essential part of the American Exchange Project experience. By hosting, families learn firsthand about life in another part of America and in turn can share what they love most about their town.

For many AEP host families, one week of welcome has laid the groundwork for lifelong bonds that last long after the exchange. Families and their students have kept in touch over text, sent each other care packages, exchanged cards at holidays, and even reunited on trips. 

What will I need to provide as a host?

Host families are responsible for providing a safe and secure place for students to sleep, serving two meals a day, and assisting with student transportation needs throughout the week.

How long is the time when I’ll be hosting?

You’ll host during your community’s Hometown Week in the summer, typically from a Wednesday to the following Wednesday. Please contact your local Exchange Manager for specific dates.

Is there a stipend for host families?

Yes! Host families will receive a stipend to help minimize the cost of student(s’) meals and transportation costs for their stay. Contact your local Exchange Manager for more information.

Will I need to be with my student(s) 24/7 during Hometown Week?

While you will serve for one week, you will not need to provide 24/7 supervision for your student(s). Your support is needed most at the beginning and end of each day before and after the larger exchange group sets out on activities. The American Exchange Project requires that a responsible adult is in the home between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. when the student you are hosting is not at an exchange activity.

Additionally, your Hometown Week will feature a host family day, an itinerary day set aside for you to spend one-on-one time with your student(s). Students have joined their families at church services in Texas, tubed alongside them on the river in Georgia, and played volleyball games with them on the shore in Massachusetts. You don’t need to make any special plans, however—simply fold your student(s) into your ordinary life for a day. Please talk to your local Exchange Manager for more information about what host family day looks like during your Hometown Week.

As part of the American Exchange Project family, you may also be invited to participate in some community-wide activities.

How many students can I host?

American Exchange Project host families usually host 1-2 students, but can host more if space allows.

Can the student stay on a pull-out bed or air mattress in a spare room or office?

Yes. The American Exchange Project’s primary concern is that student accommodations are safe. If you have questions about what accommodations you are able to provide, please discuss them with your local Exchange Manager.

Can students share a room?

Students can share a room provided they have separate beds/mattresses, are of the same biological sex, and are within two years of age. Students cannot share a room with a member of the opposite biological sex. AEPers cannot share a bed with another person under any circumstances.

Who decides which student stays with each host family?

Your local Exchange Manager is your point of contact for the student/host family pairing process. Placements are made based on information that is provided about each student and host family.

Will I be able to meet the student(s) I’m hosting before the exchange?

Yes. Shortly after students find out where they are traveling on AEP Day (early March), there will be a Zoom meeting for traveling students and host families to meet and get to know each other. Contact information will also be shared in case either the student or host family would like to have additional contact before the exchange.

When do I sign up to be an American Exchange Project host family?

The 2025 sign up form is currently open and we are reviewing families for this summer. Sign up now if interested.

How do I sign up to host a student? What is the vetting process?

The first step is to fill out the host family form where you will be asked to provide information about your home, the hostee’s accommodation, and members of your household. You must also agree to a brief interview with your local Exchange Manager and provide references, who will be contacted by the Exchange Manager.

If you are selected as an AEP host family, every adult 18 and over that will be in the household while you are hosting a student must pass a third-party state and federal background check, paid for by the American Exchange Project.

Are there any other requirements for host families?

In the spring, your local Exchange Manager will hold brief host family meetings where you will find out more about the Hometown Week itinerary and have a chance to ask any questions.

How will my family benefit from being a part of the American Exchange Project?

Your family will have the opportunity to meet young people from around the country and develop new friendships as the students explore new places and perspectives—and have a ton of fun! This is a chance for anyone in your home to build new connections, broaden their perspectives, and learn more about what it means to be an American.

How else can I be involved in my Hometown Week exchange?

By making a non-cash donation—passes to a summer movie festival, for example, or coupons for a group dinner at our town’s most popular restaurant—neighbors and local businesses can help both home and visiting students experience our town to the fullest. 

Your Hometown Week exchange will have ample opportunities for volunteers to assist with student meals, transportation, and hospitality efforts, like welcome signs. Please contact your local Exchange Manager and/or Community Leader for more specific information on how you can best help.

Who will lead my Hometown Week exchange?

In each partner high school, the American Exchange Project works with an Exchange Manager, an educator that is responsible for facilitating the Hometown Week exchange. The student you host will be in contact with two Exchange Managers, one for their own town’s Hometown Week exchange, and one within your town.

Who can sign up for the American Exchange Project?

Any high school senior in the United States enrolled in an American Exchange Project partner school and on track to graduate may sign up for an exchange.