They aren't unnice neighborhoods because those living there have nothing to do. They're unnice neighborhoods because, while many of those living there do all they can, it isn't enough to make their lives worth living. So those who can't make their lives worth living make those who can have worse lives.
Disclaimer: I live in one of these neighborhoods. While I, personally, think we're closer to a post-scarcity society than we realize, I'm still surrounded by those who lack the privilege to think about such things. As such, they're kept awake at 2 AM because their neighbor is having a physiological reaction to whatever drugs he took that day and is storming around his complex, screaming and destroying things. Meanwhile, I'm a straight white male privileged enough to be living in a co-op, where we maintain a better standard of living and don't worry about such things on our property (at least, to some extent.)
Maybe, but I'm a lot more concerned with tax-dodging American companies incorporating in Ireland and skipping out on millions, than I am about safety nets that help people to get by. I don't think that unhappy neighborhoods are caused by people sitting around feeling terrible about mooching. Put another way, I hear a lot more people trying to figure out how to pay their bills, than I do people feeling bad that they need help to do so.
Disclaimer: I live in one of these neighborhoods. While I, personally, think we're closer to a post-scarcity society than we realize, I'm still surrounded by those who lack the privilege to think about such things. As such, they're kept awake at 2 AM because their neighbor is having a physiological reaction to whatever drugs he took that day and is storming around his complex, screaming and destroying things. Meanwhile, I'm a straight white male privileged enough to be living in a co-op, where we maintain a better standard of living and don't worry about such things on our property (at least, to some extent.)