Become a host family in Halifax
Welcome an international student into your Halifax or Dartmouth home. Students come to Halifax for university, college and English-language programs, and a host family helps them feel at home by the Atlantic. Vanmates matches you with students, pays you monthly and supports you throughout.
Four steps to your first student
Vanmates handles the matching, payments and support. You decide who stays in your home.
Tell us about your home
Fill in the short form on this page with your contact details and how many rooms you could offer.
Online application
Complete the host application — about 20 minutes. It saves as you go, so you can stop and finish later on any device.
Checks, agreement and photos
Each adult in the home completes a criminal record check, you sign the host agreement and upload photos of the room and home.
We match students — you choose
Tell us which ages, genders and diets you are comfortable with. We suggest students, and you decide who to accept.
What a host family provides
You don’t need a big house — just a clean, safe private room and a welcoming home.
A furnished private bedroom
A bed, a desk, storage for clothes and good light. One student per private bedroom.
Meals of the chosen plan
The meals included in the student’s meal plan. Many hosts simply have the student join family meals.
Wi-Fi and the basics
Internet access and the everyday comforts of the home, so the student can study and stay in touch with family.
A welcoming home
A friendly household where the student is part of daily life — conversation, local tips and help settling in.
Why families host
Cultural exchange
Share your city and your everyday life, and learn about another culture without leaving home.
Monthly income
Vanmates collects the student’s homestay fee and pays you every month by direct deposit.
Support from our team
The Vanmates homestay team answers hosts and students and steps in if there is ever a problem.
Hosting students in Halifax
Most of Halifax’s students study on the peninsula — Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s are both in the South End — while NSCC has campuses on both sides of the harbour.
Schools near you
- Dalhousie University — Studley, Sexton and Carleton campuses on the Halifax peninsula.
- Saint Mary’s University — In the South End of Halifax, a short walk or bus ride from downtown.
- NSCC (Nova Scotia Community College) — Several campuses in the Halifax region, including the Institute of Technology Campus in Halifax and the Ivany Campus in Dartmouth.
- Language schools — Mostly in downtown Halifax.
Where hosting works best
Homes on the Halifax peninsula, or near a frequent Halifax Transit route, work best. Dartmouth homes close to the Alderney or Woodside ferry terminals have an easy harbour crossing to downtown Halifax.
Neighbourhoods off the peninsula — such as Clayton Park, Fairview or Spryfield — work well with a direct bus to downtown or campus. Tell us your nearest stop in the application.
Showing students around
Halifax is compact and easy to explore. Hosts often help students learn the bus and ferry routes in their first week, and share favourite spots along the waterfront.
Questions from Halifax families
How much do host families earn in Halifax?
It depends on the city and the meal plan you offer. A Vanmates coordinator confirms the exact amount before your first student arrives. Vanmates collects the student’s homestay fee and pays you every month by direct deposit.
Can I host if I have pets?
Yes. Pets are fine — tell us about them in the application so we match you with a student who is comfortable with animals.
Can I host if I have children?
Yes. Families with children are welcome. Tell us who lives in your home in the application so we can find the right student.
I work full-time. Can I still host?
Yes. Working full-time is fine — students are at school during the day too. Mention your schedule in the application.
Can I offer more than one room?
Yes. Add each room to the application with its own photos. We place one student per private bedroom.
How long do students stay?
Stays usually run from 4 weeks to several months, depending on the student’s program. You choose which students to accept.
What background checks are required?
Each adult living in the home completes a criminal record check. You also sign a host agreement and upload photos of the room and the home. A coordinator tells you which check we need and how to get it in Halifax.
What support do hosts get?
The Vanmates homestay team answers hosts and students at [email protected] and steps in if there is any problem with a student.
What happens if a stay is cancelled or plans change?
A coordinator explains how cancellations and changes work before you accept a student, and answers personally if plans change. Email [email protected] any time.
Can I host in Dartmouth or Bedford?
Yes. Homes across the Halifax region are welcome. What matters is a reasonable trip to school — near a ferry terminal or a direct bus route is ideal. Tell us your nearest stop and we’ll match students whose campus is a convenient ride away.
Tell us about your home
Send your details and we’ll take you straight to the online host application. No commitment — you choose if and when to welcome a student.
Check your email
Questions before you start?
Our homestay team is happy to help — email us and a coordinator will reply.