{"data":{"type":"company_profile","id":124642,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:124642","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/homekeep.duo","generated_at":"2026-06-21T21:46:41Z","updated_at":"2026-06-21T05:00:43Z","entity_ids":{"company":"wefunder:company:124642","slug":"wefunder:company_slug:homekeep.duo"},"profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":true,"privacy_mode":"promote","invite_only":false},"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-06-21T21:46:41Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-21T05:00:43Z","as_of":"2026-06-21T21:46:41Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-21T05:00:43Z","as_of":"2026-06-21T21:46:41Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-21T21:46:41Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-21T21:46:41Z","confidence":"medium"}}},"company":{"id":124642,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:124642","slug":"homekeep.duo","name":"Homekeep by Duo","tagline":"Preserve housing affordability and make the landlord/tenant model obsolete.","story":"Deep down we all know being a tenant or even a landlord comes with a slew of problems. So why do we put up with it? Surely, if we thought more about it we could find a better way. Working together with people closest to the problem opens up a world of possibilities. Homekeep can explore those possibilities to make them a reality.The main problemLet's start with the basic problem: housing affordability. In 2021 most middle- and low-income households in Chicago were considered rent burdened, meaning that more than 30% of their income went toward paying for rent.Source: https://www.housingstudies.org/releases/state-rental-2021/ This problem is directly connected to the landlord/tenant model, something we often just accept as \"that's just how things are.\" But if we look at the incentives of this model, continuing down this path will only make affordability worse. Landlords have to keep as much passive income as possible, and tenants have to put up with whatever is on the market to find a place to live. There's simply no way to reach affordability using this model.The solutionThrough Homekeep, we have the opportunity to design new models of ownership. And part of it relies on pooling money with like-minded investors, so that the expectations of financial returns are a \"nice to have\" from the start (instead of a \"must have\"), and we are all in this together to preserve affordability as the main mission.The ProjectWe plan to start small with a very healthy set of buildings that are already occupied, so that we can preserve their affordability now.We'll then partner with the residents of these buildings to try out new ideas that turn the landlord/tenant model on its head. These are some early ideas:Just to put this into perspective: how would you react if your landlord had ever asked you \"hey, would you be interested in counting part of your rent as equity in this property?\" (we checked, and it is possible, it really only requires a special kind of lease, and some shared responsibility. This is part of the design challenge we are proposing). What we've done so farWe've set the wheels in motion over the past 6 months, and are currently undergoing the financing application with the City of Chicago and our lender. Why will this work?All these reasons point toward the fact that it is the right time to try what Homekeep has to offer:Expected financialsFor these three buildings, we expect to have about $7K in profit at the end of the year. There are opportunities to increase this by appealing property taxes given that we will be preserving affordability, and reducing operating costs by trying some of the models we described earlier.Again, we are not promising a quick road to riches here. The main point is to preserve affordability and have sustainable enough operations to try out new models as we find ways to scale them. The fact that the properties are self sustaining is a great start.Forward looking projections cannot be guaranteed. Why investThis is a very unique opportunity to be part of tackling housing affordability, one of the biggest issues in urbanization, and to help design a completely new model of renting/owning property.All while earning a return passively. Even though annual distributions for these initial three buildings are modest initially, in the event of a mission-aligned sale, there is a potential for higher earnings. The TeamWe hope you will join us! This is the team who will have your back: The askWe are looking for $120K to finalize the acquisition and initial operation of these three buildings. This is enough to get us started.We hope you will join us and/or spread the word!","location":"Chicago, Illinois","website":"https://www.duodevelopment.org/","total_amount_raised":61500,"total_investors":74,"is_funded":true,"is_active":true,"quality_score":2,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/homekeep.duo","https://www.duodevelopment.org/"]},"media":{"share_image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/124642/xxl_blob.jpg","logo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/logo/124642/large_blob","header_media_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/124642/standard_blob.jpg","cover_photo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/124642/standard_blob.jpg"},"links":{"company_url":"https://www.duodevelopment.org/"},"highlights":[],"quick_facts":[{"index":1,"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"Secure affordability in gentrifying neighborhoods"},{"index":2,"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"Shift our common narrative around housing rights and neighborhood ownership"},{"index":3,"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"Do away with the power dynamics of the landlord/tenant model for the benefit of society"},{"index":4,"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"Earn a return on your investment"},{"index":5,"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"Trusted Chicago team with direct experience in real estate development and innovation methodologies"},{"index":6,"claim_id":"claim-fact-6","value":"Support from Communities United, a trusted Chicago grassroots org focused on housing affordability"}],"team":[{"id":3183744,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:3183744","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2834965","role":"founder","name":"Rafa Robles","title":"Co-founder","bio":"Multicontextual designer with experience across mediums and scales to create services, businesses, digital, and real estate assets. Former Doblin (a Deloitte Business), Licensed Managing Broker; Architecture, University of Illinois Chicago.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/3183744/square_blob.jpg?1684359177","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/rafa.robles","personal_url":"","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/rafa.robles",""]},{"id":3183743,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:3183743","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2607266","role":"founder","name":"Carlos Robles-Shanahan","title":"Co-founder","bio":"Systems-based strategist/researcher. Experience delivering strategies for non-profit, Fortune 500 and government, resulting in $5+ billion in value. Former Deloitte Consulting, public school teacher, and Master of Public Policy, University of Michigan.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/3183743/square_blob.jpg?1677883574","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/carlosroblesshanahan","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/roblescf/","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/carlosroblesshanahan"]},{"id":3655389,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:3655389","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2501940","role":"employee","name":"Sarah Kaplan","title":"Legal Counsel","bio":"10+ years serving entities that empower community ownership.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/3655389/square_blob.jpg?1685059409","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/sarah.kaplan.3","linkedin_url":"https://linkedin.com/in/sarah-kaplan-co-op-lawyer/","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/sarah.kaplan.3"]}],"featured_investors":[{"id":5721,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:5721","investor_profile_id":2320830,"investor_profile_entity_id":"wefunder:investor_profile:2320830","subject_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2853593","name":"Adam Barsella","avatar_url":"http://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/user/avatar/2853593/medium_60681cfa202c17fd29fa20230303-89-17bjjl1.jpg","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/adam.barsella","investment_total":5000,"investment_info":"Invested $5,000 this round","is_lead_investor":true,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/adam.barsella"]}],"investor_memos":[],"tab_counts":{"posts":0,"ask_questions":5,"featured_investors":1,"faq_entries":4},"active_fundraises":[{"id":71993,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:71993","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"custom","security_type":"custom","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":false,"min_purchase":200,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":50000.0,"funding_started_at":"2023-06-15T21:42:58Z","funding_closed_at":"2023-08-16T04:02:41Z","auto_close_at":"2023-08-16T03:59:59Z"},{"id":71994,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:71994","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":200,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":120000.0,"funding_started_at":"2023-02-28T22:32:27Z"}],"latest_fundraise":{"id":71993,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:71993","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","structure":"custom","testing_the_waters":false,"can_invest_now":false,"funding_started_at":"2023-06-15T21:42:58Z","funding_closed_at":"2023-08-16T04:02:41Z","terms":{"eb":null,"nb":null,"txt":null}},"recent_posts":[],"q_and_a":[{"id":252527,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:252527","question":"Hello, I was wondering if you could talk a bit more about how you will ensure affordability. Will you be using a tool such as a community land trust to structure the properties? Are you open to talking to investors about some of the details in a call?","author_name":"Thomas Butler","votes":2,"created_at":"2023-07-03T14:56:37Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/homekeep.duo#question-252527","answers":[{"id":252576,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:252576","answer":"Hi Thomas, thank you for your interest! We can absolutely talk more about how we plan to ensure affordability. The main tool we are using in the short term is an 30 year, interest free loan from the City of Chicago that we are applying for. The 8 units in the portfolio are being rented for prices in the 50 - 70% AMI and we plan to continue to provide the affordable rents moving forward. We've already identified other potential opportunities to reduce costs to keep rents low and high quality (like land trusts and others) and we would definitely be open to share some details in a call. I will reach out directly to schedule that with you, and thank you again for your interest!","author_name":"Carlos Robles-Shanahan","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-07-03T22:21:01Z"}]},{"id":253760,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:253760","question":"Hi all, great speaking with you. I was interested in hearing how long you expect people to keep equity? Would this potentially be for 30 years sort of thing? Or planning a sale/equity buyback at some point, maybe where tenants take on the portion of equity held by us investors?","author_name":"Thomas Butler","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-07-12T17:27:26Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/homekeep.duo#question-253760","answers":[{"id":253764,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:253764","answer":"Thank you for the call! As of now we do not have a timeline other than preserving the affordability of the buildings which is 30 years based on the loan we have. We are interested in the potential to sell the buildings to the current tenants, and in that case all investors would receive distributions from that sale.","author_name":"Carlos Robles-Shanahan","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-07-12T17:40:13Z"}]},{"id":253380,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:253380","question":"Hello, could you go into more detail about the tenant getting into the equity of the property with each payment? Is the portion that is going to the property additional money/payment after the entire rent is paid in full? With the increase of the tenant's portion in the property how will the expenses, responsibilities, and revenue share be calculated? Or everything stays the same until the tenant has 100% ownership? Can this be done throughout the US? Best regards, Miguel Costa","author_name":"Miguel Costa","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-07-09T12:20:39Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/homekeep.duo#question-253380","answers":[{"id":253513,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:253513","answer":"Hi Miguel, thank you for the great question! We see this element as a big opportunity to increase tenants' rights and ownership in the property that they live in. The short answer is that we think the equity for the tenants should be baked into their monthly rent, since each monthly payment we make to the mortgage includes principal (i.e., the equity), and interest (i.e., the cost of the loan). While tenants may not have full ownership of the buildings under this model, they will be earning equity into the property, so when there is a capital event (e.g., refinance, sale) they would be entitled to a financial return proportional to the equity that they would have been building through their monthly contributions. We plan to be responsible for the expenses, property taxes, and general upkeep of the building, but since the tenant is occupying the unit and ensuring its general maintenance we believe they should be entitled to earn equity as part of their monthly rent. This part of the model is one we are still designing and will partner with the tenants to work through the details, but we think it is a significant one to shift the landlord/tenant model. As we go, we definitely think the lessons we learn can be applied across the country.","author_name":"Carlos Robles-Shanahan","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-07-10T23:47:10Z"}]},{"id":257973,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:257973","question":"I was genuinely thrilled to come across this project. I’ve thought about this issue for a long time and your mission resonates deeply with what I’ve long believed in and hoped for in the housing sector. Having been a tenant for most of my life and now on the other side of things as a landlord, I’ve often wondered how we can make both sides more equitable. Given that Homekeep’s revenue model seems to be anchored in pooling funds with like-minded investors, where financial returns are more of a ‘nice to have’ than a ‘must-have’, I do have some queries: • How does the team anticipate ensuring the sustainability and scalability of this initiative, especially as it expands? • If investor goodwill doesn’t meet projections, or if there are challenges in acquiring properties to landlord, what’s the contingency plan? • What measures are in place if the property portfolio falls short of expectations? Furthermore, with such a pronounced focus on tenants, I have another set of questions: • Have there been discussions around collaborating with existing landlords? • Is the team considering an incentive structure that aligns the interests of both tenants and landlords, ensuring a holistic and sustainable model? I’m intrigued by the possibility of a membership model. A system where both tenants and landlords contribute to and benefit from community amenities or services could present a promising revenue avenue. I’m genuinely excited to learn more about how Homekeep is strategizing these dynamics.","author_name":"Sean Burner","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-08-11T04:46:31Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/homekeep.duo#question-257973","answers":[]},{"id":250765,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:250765","question":"Do you still need more investors for this campaign, Kindly contact on this email matts12224@gmail.com","author_name":"Adeyemi Mathew","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-06-16T02:39:48Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/homekeep.duo#question-250765","answers":[{"id":250877,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:250877","answer":"Yes, we are still looking for investors. Thank you for your interest!","author_name":"Carlos Robles-Shanahan","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-06-16T21:39:31Z"}]}],"faq":[{"question":"Do you still need more investors for this campaign, Kindly contact on this email matts12224@gmail.com","answer":"Yes, we are still looking for investors. Thank you for your interest!"},{"question":"Hello, I was wondering if you could talk a bit more about how you will ensure affordability. Will you be using a tool such as a community land trust to structure the properties? Are you open to talking to investors about some of the details in a call?","answer":"Hi Thomas, thank you for your interest! We can absolutely talk more about how we plan to ensure affordability. The main tool we are using in the short term is an 30 year, interest free loan from the City of Chicago that we are applying for. The 8 units in the portfolio are being rented for prices in the 50 - 70% AMI and we plan to continue to provide the affordable rents moving forward. We've already identified other potential opportunities to reduce costs to keep rents low and high quality (..."},{"question":"Hello, could you go into more detail about the tenant getting into the equity of the property with each payment? Is the portion that is going to the property additional money/payment after the entire rent is paid in full? With the increase of the tenant's portion in the proper...","answer":"Hi Miguel, thank you for the great question! We see this element as a big opportunity to increase tenants' rights and ownership in the property that they live in. The short answer is that we think the equity for the tenants should be baked into their monthly rent, since each monthly payment we make to the mortgage includes principal (i.e., the equity), and interest (i.e., the cost of the loan). While tenants may not have full ownership of the buildings under this model, they will be earning e..."},{"question":"Hi all, great speaking with you. I was interested in hearing how long you expect people to keep equity? Would this potentially be for 30 years sort of thing? Or planning a sale/equity buyback at some point, maybe where tenants take on the portion of equity held by us investors?","answer":"Thank you for the call! As of now we do not have a timeline other than preserving the affordability of the buildings which is 30 years based on the loan we have. We are interested in the potential to sell the buildings to the current tenants, and in that case all investors would receive distributions from that sale."}]}}}