Advocates for the poor want more money to build affordable rental housing for Utah's impoverished. And tax revenue from the state's liquor sales Ñ which has had double-digit growth Ñ is a possible source.

Affordable housing is just one of the six steps that the Utah Poverty Partnership discussed Saturday when it announced its 10-year plan to cut by half the rate of hunger and extreme poverty.

Tim Funk, with the Crossroads Urban Center, told a group of about 50 that the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund has been operating for 20 years but has never reached its potential because of low funding.

In fiscal 2007, according to the Walker Fund Web site, the fund approved $5.8 million for projects, adding 713 units to Utah's affordable-housing stock.

But that is a small percentage of what is needed, Funk said. Experts estimate that Utah needs 51,000 rental units to accommodate low-income residents. And the situation might get worse as more families lose homes in the rocky economy.

"Why have a low-income housing fund that doesn't have any money in it?" he asked.

Profits from alcohol sales Ñ after the state's school-lunch program takes its share Ñ is about $53 million. Taking a percentage of that new money and earmarking it for the Walker Fund could help solve the problem as well as provide jobs for those in the construction industry.

Funk is scheduled to present the proposal to lawmakers Sept. 17.

Expanded state funding may help Utah earn additional matching federal dollars through the new National Housing Trust Fund.

kathys@sltrib.com