The vision of our new HomeBase ministry is to provide college students with a church home-away-from-home through intentional relationships with church families who offer care, encouragement, and hospitality.

Goals:
- Integrate students into the life of the church
- Foster intergenerational relationships
- Support students spiritually, emotionally, and socially
- Give families a tangible way to disciple and invest in the next generation

Eligibility:
- Students: Must be actively attending college locally and connected to the church (visiting or attending regularly)
- Families: Church members in good standing, willing to commit to minimum interaction expectations

Commitment Guidelines:
Minimum Expectations for Host Families:
- Share at least one meal per month with the student
- Attend at least one of the student's events each semester
- Check in monthly with a text/call/prayer encouragement
- Invite the student to church-related or family events occasionally
Minimum Expectations for Students:
- Be responsive and respectful in communication
- Participate in scheduled meetups
- Be open to relationship and encouragement

Program Flow
1. Application & Matching
- Students and families fill out short applications during August and September
- Coordinator matches based on common interests or needs

2. Kickoff Event
- Hold a welcome lunch/dinner at the start of October for all participants to meet and connect

3. Monthly Encouragement Emails
- Send families seasonal suggestions for care and students reminders to reach out

4. Mid-Year Check-In
- Quick feedback survey during December/January to evaluate how relationships are going

5. End-of-Year Celebration
- Celebrate with a dinner or church recognition moment to honor relationships built