From your experience Lynn, are they happy?   hmm unfair question, they are most certainly not all in the same circumstance for the same reasons.
Let's say that I've know a few people who are 'living' but far from happy.   Of course I know some wealthy people that I could say the same thing about.

Certainly people have the right to chose to live a certain lifestyle.   But I'm not sure it's it's a right to expect others to support you if you are capable of working.  Now that that fall into deep trouble but really want to return to an independent life, that's a distinctly different story.   Same goes for those that have suffered physical or mental disabilities that gives them limited opportunities to earn a wage.