Specifications include, but are not limited to: Currently there are 15 local homeless planning groups in Massachusetts. Known as Continuums of Care or CoCs, these groups are responsible for applying for federal homeless funds and developing data-driven strategies to address homelessness in their geographic area. With the creation of an HDW, key stakeholders will have facilitated access to data that could be used to: Develop a comprehensive and accurate understanding of homelessness across the Commonwealth, in specific regions or communities, to better understand the characteristics, mobility patterns and support service utilization of individuals and families experiencing homelessness; Identify the prevalence of specific homeless subpopulations (e.g., veterans, youth, elders, chronically homeless, etc.) across CoC boundaries thereby enabling agencies to offer and provide appropriate services to these homeless subpopulations; Support households that are experiencing homelessness access the most appropriate housing and service resource across geographic areas and systems of care; and Provide elected officials, government agencies and other funders of homeless services a better understanding of the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness and the ability to better target their investments to strategies and programs that demonstrate efficiency and effectiveness in ending homelessness.