Seattle civic leader Bill Hobson passes away

SEATTLE — Seattle civic leader Bill Hobson passed away overnight Friday.

Hobson was longtime executive director of Seattle’s Downtown Emergency Service Center.

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Mayor Ed Murray released a statement Saturday morning:

"Bill has been a towering figure, locally and nationally, among homeless advocates. I worked with him over the years when I was in Olympia as he advocated for more funding for housing and services to assist the homeless and those struggling with addiction or mental illness.

Bill did more than just provide a voice for the voiceless. He was a larger than life personality who fought tirelessly to make this city a better and more compassionate place. He was an innovator who brought people together to pursue new approaches that helped make Seattle a pioneer in how we house the chronically homeless, starting with 1811 Eastlake and our nationally recognized "Housing First" strategies. Most of all, Bill was a leader, one who pushed all of us to challenge stereotypes and move past our prejudices."

Hobson’s employer, the Emergency Service Center extended its sympathies publicly to his family.

Hobson worked for the DESC for 31 years. The center says he was the driving force behind 1811 Eastlake -- a housing project for formerly homeless people with chronic alcohol addiction.

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From the center:

"An impassioned leader, Bill's voice was always the first to decry the injustice and indignities suffered by homeless people considered too difficult or treatment resistant to be offered the right to their own homes.  His stance that there is no such thing as a throwaway person remains the inspiration for our work."

From King County Executive Dow Constantine:

"This loss hits hard. Few advocates have been able to do so much for so many who have so little. He was kind, but unwavering, unapologetic and unafraid to speak up for those who have no voice."

Cox Media Group