Rex Hohlbein
A Seattle native, Rex ran a successful residential architectural firm for nearly 30 years. In 2010, after befriending several people experiencing homelessness, he started a Facebook page to raise awareness for those living unsheltered by sharing photos and personal stories. Today, that Facebook page has over 49,000 followers, becoming the thriving and inspirational non-profit, Facing Homelessness.
Equally important to Rex is a connection to the environment, the need to find balance within it and appreciation for it. A big smile comes across his face when telling of walking with his daughter Julia Vo in the rain, her head tilted to the sky, eyes closed, and she said, “Dad, I just love drizzle!” He believes that in these small moments of connection, with people and the planet, we can create a more equitable world for us all. In 2017, combining both architecture and community outreach, Rex, with his daughter Jenn LaFreniere, started the social justice architecture firm BLOCK Architects.