Jeffery McNeil was born May 7, 1967, in Zanesville, Ohio. He was raised in Toms River, N.J., where he graduated from the Toms River High School East. After high school, McNeil enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served for four years. He returned to New Jersey after an honorable discharge and lived for a short time in Philadelphia. He performed many odd jobs in order to earn an income. McNeil’s specialty as a chef was acquired through training while he was in the military. He also worked as a salesman for Toyota dealerships in the New Jersey area, where he lived and worked for nearly 20 years. During this time, McNeil was engaged to someone he hoped someday to marry. Unfortunately, the relationship began to sour until, finally, the engagement ended. McNeil said this situation sent him into a state of depression which propelled him to seek other activities to fill the void. He moved to Atlantic City where he began to drink and gamble at an uncontrolled rate and miss days at work. Living so close to Atlantic City gambling casinos only added to his decline into a world devoid of rationality and substance. McNeil said he had a hard time finding a job in the area to support his gambling activities. So he left the city to come to Washington, D.C., because he had heard the job prospects were better. He proposed to work for a while to get enough money to return to Atlantic City and resume his gambling practice. When he got to D.C., McNeil found out it was just as hard to get employment here as it was in New Jersey. But he came to adore D.C. because he has an innate love of history and art and D.C has many museums, art galleries and historical monuments. These occupied a lot of his time and helped relieve some of the depression that had consumed him for so long. One day, McNeil was lounging in the park at Franklin Square when he heard about Street Sense as a way to make some money. He became a vendor in early August and so far has not looked back. With the money he has earned so far, McNeil has been able to open a bank account and purchase much–needed items. He is planning to get off the streets and to invest money into other businesses when he receives more substantial and permanent employment. McNeil says he has little thought of gambling any more and with the money he used to buy a drink, he now chooses to buy food and go to a movie. He is an avid fisherman and is interested in politics.

How did you become homeless?

I lost a small business and my house due to gambling and other frivolous activities.

Why do you sell Street Sense?

I see a lot of people who would like to work but who don’t have the proper credentials to get a job. Many other employers don’t offer the same opportunities you get by being an independent contractor. This is a paper where with a little bit of ingenuity and hard work you can accomplish something.

What is your favorite book?

“Made in America,” the autobiography of Sam Walton, and “Doyle Brunson’s Super System: A Course in Power Poker” by Doyle Brunson.

What is your favorite music?

Classic jazz and classic R&B. John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Stevie Wonder and Curtis Mayfield.

What is your favorite movie?

“The Deer Hunter,” with Robert De Niro and “The Shining,” starring Jack Nicholson.

What is your favorite food?

I love seafood, fried fish, lobster and, occasionally, a juicy steak.