To the Editor:

Re “A New Approach on Housing” (editorial, July 8 ), about how some “Democratic presidential candidates are promoting industrial-strength plans to ease the pain” of the high cost of rental housing:

Effective approaches harnessing what you call the “irresistible force” of the federal government already exist.

One, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit , a federal incentive for private-sector investment in the construction of such housing, has helped millions of Americans afford rental housing since its introduction in 1986 . And it’s up for an expansion this year — giving presidential candidates a chance to get on the record behind a proven remedy to the nation’s housing scarcity.

We applaud any White House hopeful who takes on the issue of affordable housing. Let’s hope the candidates consider options that not only lay out big plans for the future but that also can start making a difference right away.

Emily Cadik

Washington

The writer is the executive director of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition.