Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced new Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers that will assist people with disabilities in accessing affordable housing and an array of supportive services, with over $170,000 earmarked for the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority.  The vouchers, also known as mainstream vouchers, enable people with disabilities to access both affordable housing and supportive services—provided though partnership agreements between public housing authorities and local agencies—in an effort to enable individuals to live independently in the community.  Mid-Columbia Housing Authority executive director Joel Madsen says the federal investment will help create a better culture of health by housing some of the most vulnerable citizens.  Nationally, 285 public housing authorities received 11,931 Housing Choice Vouchers, totaling more than $98.5 million this year.  The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2018 made an additional $385 million available for new Housing Choice Vouchers.