Kora-lea Vidal, once a running back for Canada91裸聊视频檚 silver-medal-winning national football team, says she never thought she91裸聊视频檇 escape domestic violence and become homeless.

Vidal, 36, often posts videos on TikTok, where she91裸聊视频檚 amassed nearly 55,000 followers. She covers tough content but also strives to 91裸聊视频渟how there91裸聊视频檚 a beauty in the struggle.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 interesting because, when I fell into homelessness myself, as much as it91裸聊视频檚 a struggle just to meet your basic needs like food, shelter and showers, there91裸聊视频檚 kind of like a weird sense of freedom to it as well.91裸聊视频�

She says her troubles help fuel her mission to end world hunger, starting in some rough areas of downtown Edmonton. In 2017, she started a humanitarian movement called Live Lifted dedicated to meeting that goal.

91裸聊视频淵ou don91裸聊视频檛 know how many times people come up and thank me for doing humanitarian work and capturing beautiful moments with their loved ones who they actually lost to addiction.91裸聊视频�

Vidal was born in Prince Rupert, B.C., known as the 91裸聊视频淐ity of Rainbows91裸聊视频� on the northern West Coast. Vidal says she grew up a tough mountain girl who played rugby, and that she was raised by her dad, who died when she was seven.

She incorporated rainbow designs and colours into the branding of her social media and organization because they represent a 91裸聊视频減rayer for humanity91裸聊视频� in the Bible, she says.

Vidal had a son when she was 25, but would continue to play football and breastfeed him at halftime. She retired from the game in order to focus putting her son through sports as he got older.

91裸聊视频淏ut that91裸聊视频檚 when life took a turn for the worse,91裸聊视频� she says.

She says she wound up in a toxic relationship and stumbled upon the drug scene, then began struggling with addiction for five years.

Today she frequents the streets, but in a different way. She distributes donations and interviews people who have no choice but to call sidewalks, alleys, parking lots and parks home.

91裸聊视频淎t the time, I didn91裸聊视频檛 actually know there was a need in Edmonton. I was thinking more so about Third World countries.91裸聊视频�

Since beginning her work seven years ago, Vidal says she91裸聊视频檚 grown alarmed with how many more homeless people are in Edmonton today.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really given me a change in perspective, it91裸聊视频檚 opened my eyes, and it91裸聊视频檚 opened my heart,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淚 actually stumbled into homelessness myself.91裸聊视频�

Vidal says over the past few weeks she91裸聊视频檚 been without a home, and that this has been her reality 91裸聊视频渙ff and on91裸聊视频� for over a year now. She says the streets can often be violent.

91裸聊视频淎 lot of people are so desperate that they will actually steal from other homeless people.91裸聊视频�

She said not all are like that, but there are 91裸聊视频渂ad apples.91裸聊视频�

Vidal says there were times she had to stay in a tent, and couldn91裸聊视频檛 sleep because it was too cold.

She says fear of encampment fires didn91裸聊视频檛 prevent her, or the people she91裸聊视频檚 come across, from sheltering in tents.

91裸聊视频淚 honestly couldn91裸聊视频檛 believe that I went from taking care of people on the streets to being on the streets myself.91裸聊视频�

Vidal says there are many ways someone can end up homeless.

91裸聊视频淲hen I go out to do my outreach, I don91裸聊视频檛 just hand out food and clothing and just part ways, I make an effort to get to know the people that I91裸聊视频檓 serving.91裸聊视频�

Vidal published a TikTok video in 2021 that got more than two million views after she came across a man sitting on a mattress behind a dumpster in an Edmonton parking lot during a frigid February night.

Questioning how he would survive, Vidal gave the stranger a winter jacket, pillow and a blanket, while her son recorded from the warmth and safety of their car.

91裸聊视频淚 load up my vehicle with all sort of donations, and some of the donations you don91裸聊视频檛 think someone will even want. But I tell you, every last little bit goes, and there are still people hungry and needing.91裸聊视频�

Vidal says she has dipped into her own pocket to get people warm clothes.

91裸聊视频淧eople are getting frostbite left, right and centre.91裸聊视频�

Vidal says there91裸聊视频檚 still so much stigma around homelessness and addiction, but more people are needed to help.

91裸聊视频淎 lot of people take action around the holiday season, but this is 91裸聊视频榬ound-the-clock, yearlong work.

91裸聊视频淓very day is a struggle out here.91裸聊视频�