Investing in Our Diversity Scholarship Program (IIODS)

As well as receiving funding for post-secondary education or training, everyone who is a recipient will:

• Take part in personal enrichment sessions
• Network and connect with TCHC partners
• Get access to job postings and job readiness support 

To apply, you must be:

• A Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• 29 years old or younger as of April 30, 2026.
• Not a previous recipient of an IIOD Scholarship.
• Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) tenant or person living in the Scadding Court Community Centre (SCCC) catchment area. The area includes Lake Ontario to the south, Bloor Street to the north, Yonge Street to the east, and Lansdowne Avenue to the west.
• Currently studying or planning to attend a recognized post-secondary education or training school in the upcoming academic year. For example, college, university, career academy, or apprenticeship.
• Able to demonstrate a need for financial assistance. 

SCCC catchment area: 

Applications are due Friday, March 20, 2026, at 5 p.m. 

No. Past recipients are not eligible to re-apply for the IIOD scholarship.  

Applications are competitive and are fairly evaluated by a committee. Here are some things you can do to strengthen your application.  

• Make sure to include all the requested documents.
• Dedicate plenty of time to writing your application.  
• Clearly communicate your financial needs.  
• Share your motivations for studying and how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals. 

Yes. The IIOD Scholarship is open to students entering any year of study. You can apply as long as you have not been a previous IIOD recipient. 

All applications are reviewed by a committee of TCHC staff and external community partners. The committee scores applications based on our scholarship eligibility criteria. This includes:  

• financial need
• academics
• work experience
• community service involvement
• extra-curricular activities
• honours/awards 

The number of scholarships given out depends on contributions by donors. In previous years, we’ve given out between 30 to 60 scholarships. 

Scholarship funding can be used for both Canadian and international schooling. Funds may also go towards the costs of textbooks, transportation, technology, and equipment.  

Up to $3,500 of the scholarship funding will be sent directly to the university or training institution for tuition fees. $500 will be sent directly to the student via cheque.  

TCHC and SCC do not provide second-year matching scholarships. Second-year matching scholarships are issued by the post-secondary institution. Students must meet the criteria outlined by each institution to receive a matching scholarship. If you have more questions, please email Economic.Opportunities@torontohousing.ca. 

All applicants will be notified by email in late April or early May, confirming whether they will receive a scholarship. 

No. You must redeem your scholarship in the current academic year (September 2026 or January 2027). If you are planning to go to school in September 2027, you will not be eligible for a scholarship. You will have to re-apply in 2027. 

Yes. You can apply for a scholarship before being accepted into a post-secondary program or training. If your application is successful, the scholarship will only be paid when you show proof of enrollment in a recognized post-secondary educational program for the upcoming academic year. 

Students need to submit a complete application. The application form tells you what you will need to upload, including:  

• an academic transcript
• resume
• reference letter
• a financial need summary
• essay or artistic summary.  

Successful applicants will also need to provide other financial information before funds are released. 

You should report any award or scholarship funding you are expecting on your OSAP application. If you find out about an award after you have applied for OSAP, upload a letter in the "Print/Upload" section of your account on the OSAP website. Your OSAP application will be updated and you will be notified of any changes in your funding. Contact your Financial Aid Office if you have any additional questions

No. Scholarship funding will not affect your RGI status. Refer to O. Reg. 298/01 (Determination of Geared-to-Income Rent) under the Housing Services Act, 2011 in Section 50, Subsection (3), Paragraph 26, which lists items that will not be counted as income:

Income received by a student in full-time attendance at a recognized educational institution who meets the criteria stated in clauses 49 (4) (a), (b), (c) and (d) if,

i. the institution is a primary or secondary institution, or

ii. the institution is a post-secondary institution and the student,

A. is a single student, as defined in Regulation 774 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 made under the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, and

B. had not been out of a secondary institution for more than five years as of the start of his or as of the start of his or her current study period in the post-secondary institution. 

Your SIN number is needed to issue your IIOD Scholarship cheque. It is kept confidential and is used by our finance department to issue you with a T4A. As a student, your T4A slip from TCHC will report the scholarship income you received. Generally, you will only receive a T4A if the total payments are more than $500 in the year.  

Any individual who is willing to support you may do so, including teachers, parents, and family members. Attend one of our scholarship clinics listed above for additional support. You can also reach out by email at Economic.Opportunities@torontohousing.ca.