Two of my favorites have recently reached out for help (the usual, rent, behind bills, etc.). I have said no to them politely as I generally do not give out loans. They were a bit pushy, but gave up once I stood my ground.

and believe it or not, a couple of times it worked out just fine.

I've helped out two of my favorite girls in the past. Nothing crazy. Just a few things like food and other needed things. One needed help with rent. So I drove to her location and gave her the money. She treats me so well when we play I don't mind helping her out. The next time we did play she said I didn't owe her anything for the rent money I gave her. She was so sweet not charging me for our playtime. I paid her and she gave me a discount off her regular rate. Do I expect a discounted or free playtime when I give her money? Absolutely NOT. I always pay her. She's such a sweetheart. I don't mind helping her out from time to time.

...they wouldn't be my fave's anymore and I would no longer seek out any more playdates with them.

Can you even get a car for $1500 these days?  Not one I'd want to ride in.  So how do you get around?

A separate bank account for your penis. When left in charge, penis' notoriously make bad decisions. If a hooker asks for money, tell her your penis has his own money, so she will have to convince him. This part might be fun. At the end of the day, whatever your penis decides to do with his own money is on him, and you don't have to end up looking foolish by being involved.

And usually move on to another escort once they ask. I'm lucky as I have lots of choices.

In my opinion asking a client for a loan is bad business.There is always a chance if you loan money you do not hear from the person again.You don't want to be the guy posting a thread here later saying you loaned money to a provider and was suppose to see her later for an appt or appts in lieu of the loan an never heard from her again.
She would have been better off sending an email or a pm and offering an incentive if she was in need of money.
I have had guys pay in advance for future appts but these are guys that I have been seeing for quite some time and they offered to pre-pay.Or in a few cases if a guy is requesting me to travel to him.
Not because I asked them for my donation in advance I never do.

A provider I'd seen multiple times (she's no longer listed on TER, so don't try to figure out who) had to cancel on me a few hours before our meeting. She also asked if she could borrow some money, as her problems had kept her from working. I didn't want to agree to a loan, as I suspected it wouldn't be repaid, so I said I'd give her an advance on our next meeting. (I know: what's the difference).

I can't say whether to do it or not, you'd have to look into your own charitable heart.

I think you "almost" made a huge mistake, but came to your senses before actually going through with it.

return the money so she avoided all contact. If you loaned them money then you may end up in the same shoes as I and never able to see them again. I bet if you reach out now. They will be willing to see you. They need the money, right?

I don't expect to get my money back. I get that. If she needs money for daily things like food, gas, or rent I don't  mind giving her money. Like I stated in my previous post she wasn't going to charge me the next time we played. I paid her. But she took 100 off her regular rate. I was going to pay her in full. But she insisted I keep 100. There are a few providers that are honest enough to pay back clients that advance them money. I'm lucky to have one.

there's not such thing as a $1500 car, only a $1500 car repair.  

I don't get it! AND...it's so unprofessional. Tacky. Maybe it's a drug or gambling habit...or they're not in demand? Or just greedy and scamming for money? I'm primarily a low volume massage provider and on average, I pull in $400-800/day, if I couldn't figure out how to pay my bills with that income, I'd have to be an idiot. And I certainly wouldn't deserve help.

You don't lend money, and they don't fuck their customers.

You can't take money with you when you die. Might as well spend it and help others along the way. If giving a favorite provider money helps her out, then it will put you in her good graces.

Here's a tale of someone who tried:

in the back of my mind  I have to entertain the possibility that she MIGHT be playing me.  She said it was for IRS quarterly tax bill.

that was theft not a loan or a gift

at least be somewhat prepared to not get repaid.
I'm not justifying it but it happens IRL too. Probably  
even more often.  

First I think it's tacky that these providers asked you for money in the first place.  But you say they actually got pushy with you when you said no?  That's really insulting.  

because you will not be paid back.

When your income varies from month to month and you spend thinking you will just make more and you don't then it's easy to go broke quick....Everyone knows it takes money to make money even in this profession so it's easy to become broke and then have no way to make more.  I know it as I've been there and I suspect many of us have so I've learned to always have money set aside for the expenses that come with this business along with a savings.  A few times I've had to borrow from a friend and paid him back with interest but I would never dream of asking a client as it's just really unprofessional and sends the message that your demand is low regardless of the circumstances.  I could see how others would ask whether they have a drug habit or not but I would have too much pride.