As a 2007-2008 Borchard Fellow, Ms. Bierma works for the Housing Discrimination Law Project of the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis. She represents elderly clients who have experienced housing discrimination because of their disabilities. Many of these clients reside in seniors' apartment buildings or long-term care settings like assisted living and nursing homes. Her clients have experienced illegal disability-based questioning when applying for housing, discriminatory evictions, discriminatory application denials, discriminatory terms and conditions of tenancy, and refusals to accommodate their disabilities. By challenging such discriminatory actions, she has helped her clients obtain and remain in the housing of their choice.
Ms. Bierma has given presentations to a wide variety of organizations and groups. She has trained housing providers, elderly individuals, social workers, lawyers, other advocates for the elderly, and various other groups about the fair housing rights of senior citizens. She is also producing an article and other written materials regarding housing discrimination against the elderly in long-term care and other housing settings.
