A candidate running to be city commissioner in Montana has sparked widespread fury after suggesting the local homeless population could be turned into a ‘tourist attraction’ to raise money.
Pete Anderson was part of an October 20 panel discussing homelessness statistics in Great Falls, where he is running as a candidate for the four-person city commission.
‘I think that there’s a completely untapped opportunity with, I guess, making the homeless issue into a homeless profit,’ Anderson said, according to the Montana Free Press.
‘And there is a tourist attraction just waiting to happen.’
Anderson referred to the would-be tourist attraction as ‘homeless island’ and said the population could live in shelters which would be funded by local businesses.
In exchange, the businesses could mount advertising campaigns on the exteriors of the shelters, and they would benefit from incoming tourists.
He suggested the homeless population could then create and sell items to visitors, bolstering the area’s credentials as a tourist attraction.
Anderson was inspired by the existence of ‘poor farms’ in the 1900s, when poor citizens could work in exchange for food and shelter.
Anderson referred to the would-be tourist attraction as ‘homeless island’ and said the population could live in shelters which would be funded by local businesses
Pete Anderson was part of an October 20 panel discussing homelessness statistics in Great Falls (pictured), where he is running as a candidate for the four-person city commission
He noted the farms were often used as refuges for people escaping violence or living with disabilities.
‘And what would bring in tourism is you could have a constant live market at all times,’ he said.
Anderson’s comments sparked fury within the community, with one critic suggesting: ‘Someone needs to tell Anderson that the unhoused are not circus performers.’
‘Has anyone asked the “unhoused” if they’re in favor of being the subject of this dog & pony show?’ another added.
The construction contractor previously ran for state legislature as a Republican, but lost in the primary.
He now is hoping to secure a position among the four-person City Commissioner team, who work alongside the mayor at a local level.
Anderson responded to the backlash he received in a Facebook post, writing: ”I’m just going to address this before it gets out of hand.
Great Falls, Montana, has a mounting homeless problem, with as many as 202 people living rough in the small community
‘My premise is that homeless people in Great Falls should have an area where they can have housing pods, gardens, and a local market that serves all members of the community. Why not make something really cool? What is wrong with making profit instead of borrowing from the government?
‘I don’t think there is anything wrong with thinking outside the box, and looking for creative solutions that help the safety and income of people experiencing homelessness.
‘I don’t think anything is being done currently, please help come up with a better solution if you really care about the problem.’
Anderson’s supporters rushed to his defense, arguing he meant well and was at least bringing fresh ideas to the table in the face of an ongoing crisis in the region.
There are an estimated 202 people living rough in the community, while Great Falls Public Schools data suggested as many as 400 students could meet the criteria of homelessness.
