Kora-lea Vidal, once a running back for Canada害羞草研究所檚 silver-medal-winning national football team, says she never thought she害羞草研究所檇 escape domestic violence and become homeless.

Vidal, 36, often posts videos on TikTok, where she害羞草研究所檚 amassed nearly 55,000 followers. She covers tough content but also strives to 害羞草研究所渟how there害羞草研究所檚 a beauty in the struggle.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 interesting because, when I fell into homelessness myself, as much as it害羞草研究所檚 a struggle just to meet your basic needs like food, shelter and showers, there害羞草研究所檚 kind of like a weird sense of freedom to it as well.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淵ou don害羞草研究所檛 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.害羞草研究所�

Vidal was born in Prince Rupert, B.C., known as the 害羞草研究所淐ity of Rainbows害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所減rayer for humanity害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淏ut that害羞草研究所檚 when life took a turn for the worse,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淎t the time, I didn害羞草研究所檛 actually know there was a need in Edmonton. I was thinking more so about Third World countries.害羞草研究所�

Since beginning her work seven years ago, Vidal says she害羞草研究所檚 grown alarmed with how many more homeless people are in Edmonton today.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really given me a change in perspective, it害羞草研究所檚 opened my eyes, and it害羞草研究所檚 opened my heart,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚 actually stumbled into homelessness myself.害羞草研究所�

Vidal says over the past few weeks she害羞草研究所檚 been without a home, and that this has been her reality 害羞草研究所渙ff and on害羞草研究所� for over a year now. She says the streets can often be violent.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of people are so desperate that they will actually steal from other homeless people.害羞草研究所�

She said not all are like that, but there are 害羞草研究所渂ad apples.害羞草研究所�

Vidal says there were times she had to stay in a tent, and couldn害羞草研究所檛 sleep because it was too cold.

She says fear of encampment fires didn害羞草研究所檛 prevent her, or the people she害羞草研究所檚 come across, from sheltering in tents.

害羞草研究所淚 honestly couldn害羞草研究所檛 believe that I went from taking care of people on the streets to being on the streets myself.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淲hen I go out to do my outreach, I don害羞草研究所檛 just hand out food and clothing and just part ways, I make an effort to get to know the people that I害羞草研究所檓 serving.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 load up my vehicle with all sort of donations, and some of the donations you don害羞草研究所檛 think someone will even want. But I tell you, every last little bit goes, and there are still people hungry and needing.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淧eople are getting frostbite left, right and centre.害羞草研究所�

Vidal says there害羞草研究所檚 still so much stigma around homelessness and addiction, but more people are needed to help.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of people take action around the holiday season, but this is 害羞草研究所榬ound-the-clock, yearlong work.

害羞草研究所淓very day is a struggle out here.害羞草研究所�