Two individuals approach Lydia Bardak at the safe ride van she drives, parked on the sidewalk beside Subway downtown.

The date is July 31. Somebody is passed out in the parkade across the road, they tell her, and needs help.

SA国际影视传媒淲ake up, wake up,SA国际影视传媒� Bardak says, nudging the man gently until his eyes open.

After a few minutes, he sits up.

Bardak puts his arm over her shoulder and they cross the street, stopping on the steps of the Safe Harbour Day Shelter. Her phone rings and itSA国际影视传媒檚 the - theySA国际影视传媒檝e received a call about someone sleeping downtown.

But sheSA国际影视传媒檚 already on it.

The man walks into the shelter, where a table of food awaits, thanking Bardak.

This person is one of more than 300 Bardak has picked up as co-ordinator of the city's new safe-ride program in its first two weeks of operation.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur first week, we did 115 transports and in the second week, which ended last night, we had 196,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding the van has been burning through a quarter tank of gas a day.

She estimates staff average one pick-up every half hour, most being self-generated.

This type of work is nothing new to Bardak. More than 10 years ago, she started hanging out around 50 Street on Friday and Saturday nights to watch for intoxicated people in need of help.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 be there when the Gold Range and Raven closed down,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲alking and talking with people, helping them to get off the street, helping them with cab fares home.SA国际影视传媒�

After about a year of this, staying up so late began taking its toll so she volunteered with other outreach programs SA国际影视传媒� everything from Citizens on Patrol to a foot patrol where volunteers walked downtown handing out water, juice and snacks.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat was the time when there was a gap in service,SA国际影视传媒� said Bardak, describing the throng of people who would congregate inside the post office on Franklin Avenue for warmth in the winter.

Up until around the start of this year, the day shelter closed at 5 p.m. and the Salvation Army's overnight shelter didnSA国际影视传媒檛 open until 7 p.m.

Two people staff the safe ride van that was donated by and is equipped with a simple first-aid kit.

They patrol the streets and back alleys between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m. daily, searching for people sleeping in doorways or vestibules, and bringing them to shelters, the sobering centre or sometimes the hospital, if they agree to go voluntarily.

Residents and business owners are also calling, letting staff know if they see anything concerning.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 three things weSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to do here,SA国际影视传媒� said Bardak. SA国际影视传媒淥ne is relieve the pressure on police and ambulance services. Two is Yellowknife residents have complained for a long time about the situation in the downtown core, in terms of public intoxication, people sleeping in places thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not appropriate.SA国际影视传媒�

In 2015, changed its policy for dealing with calls about intoxicated individuals. They stopped responding to them unless there was violence.

While the adjustment reduced the number of prisoners, ambulance calls spiked.

In July 2016, city officials said theySA国际影视传媒檇 seen a SA国际影视传媒渄rastic increaseSA国际影视传媒� in ambulance calls for intoxicated people SA国际影视传媒� a threefold increase over the past year. At the time, Yellowknifer reported there were 1,019 medical calls between April and June 2016. The five-year average for that same period was 698 calls.

SA国际影视传媒淢ost importantly is weSA国际影视传媒檙e looking out for people, making sure theySA国际影视传媒檙e safe,SA国际影视传媒� said Bardak.

Richard McIntosh, communications and economic development officer with the city, said it is too early to determine whether the program is reducing emergency calls, but Bardak is pleased to see people becoming familiar with the service.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey know that they can trust us and they feel safe,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淟ate at night, ISA国际影视传媒檓 noticing more of the street population themselves are flagging us down if they see a friend whoSA国际影视传媒檚 sleeping somewhere. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 really heartwarming that they feel empowered to help themselves and help each other.SA国际影视传媒�

The safe ride program, which is run by the Yellowknife WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Society, got its wheels rolling when the new sobering centre opened July 17. The program is funded with $100,000 from the City of Yellowknife through December.

The feds recently rejected an application to match that amount, which would have funded the program into next year. Now, the city is hoping to find that money itself.

Both initiatives were prioritized in a 2016 action plan the city unveiled last year in hopes of tackling what has been called a homelessness SA国际影视传媒渃risis,SA国际影视传媒� one compounded by alcohol and drug addiction.