Summary
I believe Missouri can solve its housing crisis without adding to the national debt—by using federal surplus land, supporting local builders, and cutting waste. My Build Missouri First plan is about smart investment, not handouts.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Missouri-4
Original policy concept publicly posted on this blog: July 31, 2025 at 10:35 AM CST
Housing costs are skyrocketing. Wages aren’t keeping up. And in too many Missouri towns—rural or urban—families are struggling to find a safe, affordable place to call home.
The worst part? We keep hearing there’s no solution unless we raise taxes or add to the national debt.
I don’t buy that—and neither should you.
That’s why I’m proposing the Build Missouri First initiative: a real plan that delivers housing for working Missourians without borrowing a dime from our kids’ future.
Here’s how we get there:
🏡 Unlock Public Land for Housing
Missouri counties hold thousands of vacant, tax-delinquent, or federally owned lots—just sitting there. No homes, no tax base, no purpose.
We can work with HUD, the Missouri Treasurer, and local land banks to repurpose that land for housing. No purchase cost. Just smart use of what we already have.
It’s time we put that land to work for the people.
🏗️ Build Modular—Faster, Smarter, Cheaper
Traditional construction is slow and expensive. But modular housing—factory-built and assembled on site—is:
- ✅ Up to 50% cheaper
- ✅ Built in weeks, not months
- ✅ Easier to scale in rural areas
Missouri can create local modular housing plants by repurposing old warehouses or unused factories. That creates jobs and homes at the same time.
We also partner with community colleges and trade schools to train workers for these high-demand jobs—boosting our workforce while solving the housing crisis.
🔑 Lease-to-Own Instead of Handouts
We don’t need more dead-end rent traps. We need ownership.
This plan uses a lease-to-own model:
- Residents pay below-market rent
- After 10–15 years, they own the home
- Their payments help pay back construction costs and fund maintenance
It’s sustainable. It’s fair. It works.
🏘️ Modernize Zoning for a Modern Missouri
Outdated zoning rules drive up home prices. Let’s fix that.
With state incentives and infrastructure grants, we can help towns update their zoning to allow:
- Smaller lots
- Accessory dwelling units
- Duplexes and triplexes
- Faster permitting
That means more housing, less red tape.
🤝 Power of Partnerships (Not Federal Debt)
We don’t need more bloated federal programs. We need partnerships.
We’ll bring in private foundations, local credit unions, community banks, and major retailers to help with zero-interest loans and rural housing grants—especially for seniors, veterans, and working families.
No national debt increase. Just neighbors helping neighbors.
🔨 Labor for Housing
Many Missourians are willing to put in the work.
That’s why we’ll launch a sweat equity program—where residents can earn down payment credits by helping build or maintain their future homes.
Paint it. Landscape it. Live in it.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t a handout. It’s a hand-up.
We can solve Missouri’s housing crisis without raising taxes, increasing the debt, or waiting on Washington to get its act together.
We just have to build smarter—and build for us.
I’m Ricky Dana. I’m not a career politician. I’m a Missouri-grown problem solver. And I believe we can build the future our families deserve—starting with a home they can afford.
If you agree, join me.
Donate:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ricky-dana-for-congress
Sources:
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/hope6/grants
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/18/business/modular-homes-affordable-housing.html
https://molinehousing.org/lease-to-own/
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2020/missing-middle-housing.html
Want to learn more about my rural values and platform? Read more here.
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