ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month. State and local leaders are drawing more attention to the trends seen in the Greater Rochester Region, while also shining a light on the resources available to both victims and survivors. Willow Domestic Violence Center has released its statistics for 2023. More than half of city residents and nearly half of those living in surrounding Monroe County suburbs reported experiencing some form of physical abuse. According to officials, local rates of domestic violence average about twice as high compared to numbers across the state. "We are all here for survivors. There is no wrong door, but we are seeing survivors are trying to come through in different ways than they have in the past. So, that's a very interesting result. The one thing that is absolutely harrowing and tragic is we have seen a drastic increase in the number of domestic violence related homicides in 2023," said Meaghan DeChateauvieux, president and CEO of Willow Domestic Violence Center. Last year, Willow reports Monroe County saw 13 homicides related to domestic violence, which leaders say is significantly higher than previous years. At the state level, New York's Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence is focusing on the concept of financial abuse this year. "Often, people don't realize how much power and control somebody has over them, especially when it comes to your financials. If you don't have the resources to get to safety, you're probably not going to go. A lot of times, abusers use that tactic to keep someone in an abusive and controlling relationship," said Kelli Owens, exec. director for the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. Locally, Willow recently announced the creation of a new Family Justice Center in Irondequoit aimed to bringing resources to both victims and survivors in one place. Leaders say it's a major step forward toward impactful change. "I think what's first and foremost is everybody should know, if you really want to be an ally to somebody, listen to them, give them support, and don't pass the judgment. We often want to give somebody advice on how they should do things and that's not really what they need. What they need you to do is listen and help them find their way," said Owens. For more information on the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, click here. For more resources provided by Willow Domestic Violence Center, click here.