Lost generations. How do we turn it around?

I keep hearing about sad groups of people living in one house.  We call them families, but they're not.  They are  multi generational dysfunctional relatives.  Therein lies the problem.  Sometimes, in our ignorance, we don't even realize they exist, nor do they,  or is it they don't know how to get out?  How can these debilitating chains be broken?  Its easier just to 'daily go along'.  That doesn't work.  How do you give hope where none has been seen or felt for more than one generation?  Even when given help, it seems to be taken as 'owed' to them, that's what they're taught or think.  I don't blame them.  It may be all they know.  How can this vicious generational circle be broken, or can it?  I can't answer that.  Hoping for better in itself is worthless.  The problem belongs to us all.  We all must do our best to fix it.  Waiting for someone else just won't work.  So when do we start, not tomorrow, not next week, but now, but how?...........................marge