Sorry to disagree with some, but everything in your original post about what she drove by and went through to get to your house screams fraud. I know that our church in San Francisco constantly received requests for handouts. The minister, being a seasoned soul, NEVER gave out cash. He would go shopping and get groceries and on several occasions would find that he had been given a non-existing street address. Definitely keep on the lookout for a return visit!
Four days ago, while leaving the doctor's office, I had a very broke looking, but nice, woman approach me to give her a lift to the gas station. Since I had seen a car just outside the doctor's parking lot on the highway access road with their hazards on, I had a feeling she was legit. So I took her to the station, she filled up her can, and waited until her car started upon returning her to her car. I felt sad after leaving her that I had felt so on guard helping someone down on their luck, but you must always err on the side of caution.