The Mary Lou and Tina Homestay

Description

Many Philadelphia area residents have opened their homes to international students who attend the English Language Programs. The Homestay program allows you to experience American culture in the warmth, variety and spontaneity of an American home while having excellent, relaxed opportunities to practice English conversation. Due to the popularity of the Homestay program, there may be more students who want Homestay than spaces available. You should apply for a Homestay as early as possible for the best chance of receiving one.

A Homestay provides the opportunity to live in an American home while studying English. By sharing life together with your Homestay hosts, you have a first-hand experience of American culture and opportunities to converse in English in a family atmosphere. A Homestay is not just renting a room in a home.

Since every home is different, every Homestay is different. Some Homestay hosts include a husband, a wife, and children, some are single parents with children, and some are single Americans who enjoy sharing their homes with one of our students. Homestay students are expected to live with their hosts as "family members". This means you may be expected to keep your bedroom clean or to help with shared tasks, such as washing dishes after a family meal.

All of our Homestay families must submit an extensive application to the Homestay Coordinator and be interviewed in their home before they can be accepted as a Homestay host.

Prices

There is a non-refundable $200 placement fee that is paid to the Homestay Coordinator, Mary Lou Letsinger. You pay a Homestay fee for each session directly to your host family. This amount is $1,500 per session in the Intensive Program or University Connection. The cost for one-month programs is $750. The Homestay rate includes the period from the move-in date to the move-out date listed on page 4 of the housing application.

If you select a Homestay for two or more sessions and you remain in your Homestay during the break between sessions, there is an additional fee of $27 per day during the break period.

The Homestay cost includes a comfortable private bedroom, 3 family dinners each week, cold self-serve breakfast every morning and regular English conversation with Homestay family members.

Bedroom air conditioning is optional ($30 per month, summer months only). You may select this option on the housing application.

If you plan to stay in Philadelphia beyond the move-out date for your final session, you will need to seek alternative housing.

These prices are valid from Fall 1, 2008 through Summer 2, 2009 and are subject to change Fall 1, 2009.

Application Information

1. Arrange for payment of a Homestay placement fee of $200. You can pay by a check drawn on a US bank or an international postal money order made payable to Mary Lou Letsinger. Sorry, no credit cards.
2. Send the Housing Application and payment ($200) to the address below.
3. Upon arrival in your Homestay, you will pay the Homestay fee of $1,500 (or $750 for one-month programs) to your homestay family. You may pay by money order, travelers checks, or cash. If you select the bedroom air conditioner option ($30 per month, summer months only), you will also pay that fee to your Homestay family.
4. You will receive a confirmation of acceptance to Homestay within two (2) weeks of your application and fee being received. If space is not available, your deposit will be voided
5. Upon request, you can received your Homestay family information, when possible, within the week before your arrival in Homestay.

Cancellations/refunds: Except in cases where Homestay space is not available, the placement fee is not refundable. Once you have occupied your Homestay, there are no refunds of the first session Homestay fee.

For more information, contact:

Mary Lou Letsinger or Anne Cohen
Homestay Coordinators
E-Mail: letsinger@verizon.net
Phone: 1-215-382-0383
Fax: 1-215-382-5884
Mobile:  1-215-498-9472

Send your application and payment to:

ELP Housing
English Language Programs
110 Fisher-Bennett Hall
3340 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6274 USA