People of the Abyss in Kennedy Plaza , Providence . A personal encounter

My phone camera is aimed at a " woman in distress " headed toward the bus shelter. She had approached me earlier asking for ten dollars so she " could go back to New Hampshire ". I was at first turned off by the " low life " explanation of her " need ". I hesitated to help her. " Two dollars ? " she pleaded. I was thinking : " Why not just tell me the truth of your situation ? " . I began to walk away from her and her voice of PANIC . She practically spitted out : " I hope you die of a heart attack " . When she walked back in my direction I told her that I would give her ten dollars ". But asked again about getting back "by train " to New Hampshire ". She told some confused quick lines about an issue with her boyfriend. When I handed her two fives she said " God bless you ! ". This ENCOUNTER with a " low life " human being in distress- telling or not telling the truth about her " problem " -was still worth the EXPERIENCE . I do think that there should be a DESPERATION OFFICE at every local bank where a PERSON IN DISTRESS needing only ten dollars or five dollars or twenty dollars can get temporary relief -obligation free . A subsidized federal grant for low rent desperation cases ? Could it prevent petty crime ? Often in Kennedy Plaza ,Providence I am reminded of the Jack London story : " The People of the Abyss ".