Westchester County is raising crucial awareness on domestic violence and the help available in the community. It's part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

County leaders, along with members of Hope’s Door and other organizations, gathered Tuesday evening in White Plains to talk about critical resources available.

“We need to do everything we can at the county level to make it safe for victims of domestic violence to report incidences and have conversations about their experiences. So much fear and shame cloud the lives of domestic violence victims and their families. It is time to move them from the darkness of these hidden circumstances to the light of healing, support and understanding," says Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

Data from the state shows a steady increase in domestic violence cases across Westchester County over the last several years.

Officials at the county level say this is a crisis that must be confronted. County leaders just passed legislation that will allow domestic violence victims to get the locks on their homes changed for free.

"It's not going to solve the problem, obviously we have so many more areas from housing to access to justice but this is one meaningful step we can take and the idea that one more family is going to be safe," says Chairman Vedat Gashi with the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

For more details on the free lock changes click here.

If you or someone you know needs help, there are resources available.

You can find some of them here and here.