I could mention that it gives students who are away from home a chance to connect with a family.
I could mention that it gives them a place to go that's away from campus, that can provide an occasional home-cooked meal, that can remind them there are people who exist outside of the 18-23 age range.
I could mention that it gives students a network of people - both the host family and other "siblings" - they can rely on.
I could mention that it can be a refuge when they're having roommate issues and need to decompress or talk things out, or when they've had a bit too much fun on a Saturday night and need a safe place to sleep it off, or when they're still under-age but the "legal" housemates want to have a party that might get out of hand.
I could mention that it can provide a place for them to stay if their housing needs don't quite fit the August-to-May schedule of the dorms or the August-to-August schedule of apartment leases.
I could mention that it's a fun way to learn about other cultures while teaching about ours.
I could mention all of that. But that's not why it matters.
It matters because even young adults who are out on their own, making their own decisions, still need someone they know is in their corner and available when needed. And we can be that support for them during a time when they are solidifying their sense of who they are and what they are going to do in life.
And it matters because, if you open your heart and spend time with these young people, you will quickly grow to love them. Once that happens, everything else falls into place.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." ~ I Cor. 13:13