Project Upstream is a charitable organization in Ottawa-Carleton, founded and incorporated in 1985. It was initiated by members of a family support group who were determined to address the lack of appropriate support services and decent, affordable housing for persons with long-term mental illness. Persons still struggling with their illness were discharged from hospitals to the community. They were either left with no support (which usually resulted in regular crisis, costly relapses in hospital, and/or alienation and homelessness) or they were discharged to supervised boarding homes with custodial care (in which health and self-management were extremely difficult to promote and maintain). As a result, persons with mental illness often moved in and out of hospital and crisis, with no stability of housing or health.

Thanks to the vision of organizations such as the Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton, the Citizen Fund, the Social Planning Council, the Community Foundation of Ottawa-Carleton and the United Way Bequest & Endowment Fund and the generosity of individual donors, the first Project Upstream home for four men was opened in the summer of 1985. In 1986, the residents moved to a larger home for five men, which was refurbished and fully furnished by the Canadian Progress Club, Capital Region. In 1987, a small grant was also made available by the Ontario Ministry of Health. In 1988, permanent funding by the Ontario Ministry of Health was approved for our core operations and basic staff salaries. Funding was extended in 1989 to establish our apartment program. The demand for Project Upstream services is extremely high. We continue to grow to meet the highest priority needs. In 1999, thanks to a partnership with the Community Mental Health Services, a grant from the Ministry of Health and the generosity of our supporters, we began our family-focused case management Pilot. We are proud of our ongoing commitment to practical client-driven services and our history of innovation in housing and support services. In 2005, additional staff was funded and as of 2008 a total of 6 staff serve 86 clients and their families.

Although an autonomous agency, Project Upstream shares resources with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ottawa-Carleton Branch via a purchase of service arrangement.