Montana Title 7. Local Government § 7-15-4401. Findings and policy

(1) unsanitary or unsafe dwelling accommodations exist in urban areas throughout the state, and such unsafe or unsanitary conditions arise from overcrowding and concentration of population, the obsolete and poor conditions of buildings, improper planning, excessive land coverage, lack of proper light, air, and space, unsanitary design and arrangement, lack of proper sanitary facilities, and the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes;

(2) in such urban areas, many persons of low income are forced to reside in unsanitary or unsafe dwelling accommodations;

(3) in such urban areas, there is a lack of safe or sanitary dwelling accommodations available to all the inhabitants thereof, and consequently, many persons of low income are forced to occupy overcrowded and congested dwelling accommodations;

(4) these conditions cause an increase in and spread of disease and crime and constitute a menace to the health, safety, morals, and welfare of the citizens of the state and impair economic values;

(5) these conditions cannot be remedied by the ordinary operations of private enterprise;

(6) the clearance, replanning, and reconstruction of the areas in which unsanitary or unsafe housing conditions exist and the providing of safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low income are public uses and purposes for which public money may be spent and private property acquired;

(7) it is in the public interest that work on such projects be instituted as soon as possible; and

(8) the necessity for the provisions hereinafter enacted is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, to be in the public interest.