A better plan needed for 4-year-old panhandler

A woman identified as Toni Mills sits in front of an empty flower stand on Market Street in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, July 17, 2009. A woman identified as Toni Mills sits in front of an empty flower stand on Market Street in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, July 17, 2009. Photo: The Chronicle Photo: The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close A better plan needed for 4-year-old panhandler 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

Little Gavin Mills, the 4-year-old panhandler who evoked so much sympathy and concern from San Franciscans, has been taken from his parents by Child Protective Services.

It is an incredibly difficult decision to take a child away from his mother and father, but in this case it is the right choice.

"Gavin deserves a chance in life," said Mary Long, who began a crusade to improve Gavin's and his mother Toni's life after seeing them at the Embarcadero BART Station. "He wasn't getting one being used as a panhandler tool by his chronically homeless mom."

City officials say the family was repeatedly offered beds, services and child care. But their offers, they say, were rebuffed, and people like Long kept seeing Gavin panhandling.

Gavin's parents, Eric and Toni, came to The Chronicle Friday to complain about columns I've written about Gavin. They would not speak on the record, but their point was that they love their son and are making every effort to get him back.

Erica Kisch is executive director of Compass Community Services, which works with homeless families. She said panhandling can earn quick cash whereas the wait to get housing can take months.

Christi Foist, a commuter from the East Bay, tried to connect the family with a friend in a church charity group. When that didn't work out, in January she cashed in JetBlue tickets to fly all three of them back to West Leechburg, Pa., where Eric's parents, Tom and Florence Mills, live.

Florence said when they arrived she was hoping to get some help for the family and that they could stay with them. She said they'd take Gavin, but health issues make that impossible.

"When Gavin came into my house his eyes got so big," said Florence. "He said, 'It's beautiful.' We did our best to get them into a place. They'd say, 'We don't need no help.' We said, 'Yes, you do.' "

After a few days Florence says Toni took Gavin to visit a friend and then they vanished.

Foist said she thought getting the Millses back home would help solve their problems, then was shocked to see them in April.

Foist and Long say Toni told them that Eric was unable to find work in Pennsylvania and had to return to the Bay Area for better prospects. But frankly, it is very hard to know what to believe. Often the stories don't add up and sometimes they turn out to be outright lies.

Friday I spotted Toni panhandling on Market Street, with a sign that said, "Stranded. Homeless. Please Help." I asked her where Gavin was.

"He's in summer camp," she said promptly.

No, he's not. He is being evaluated for a foster home. This is an intervention. There will be a hearing later this month to determine if Gavin can stay with his mother and father. They need to show that they have a better plan for him than panhandling on Market Street.