Inside the asylum homestay program

EXCLUSIVE: SBS has visited one of the Australian homes hosting refugees under the federal government's asylum seeker homestay plan.

Under a federal government program, those deemed to be genuine refugees are allowed to enter Australian communities and can stay with willing families for six weeks.

Critics say it leaves families dangerously exposed, while supporters argue it saves money: just $A140 dollars a week plus food against more than $A2,600 dollars in detention.

SBS was the first to visit one of these homes to see how it's going.