About Us
Joe's House
Established 2016
A Fresh Start for Returning Citizens
Joe’s House was founded to provide clean, safe, and affordable housing for individuals reentering society after incarceration.
Rebuilding life after prison comes with many challenges – from finding employment to securing stable housing. Joe’s House exists to make that transition smoother by offering homes that promote stability, dignity, and opportunity.
Founder Joe Howell knows this process firsthand. Having successfully rebuilt his life after incarceration, Joe is passionate about helping others do the same and giving Idahoans with criminal backgrounds a true second chance.
Why Joe’s House?
Finding probation and parole approved housing should be simple – but for many returning citizens, it isn’t. Options are often crowded, expensive, or restrictive, making it difficult for people to regain their independence.
At Joe’s House, we do things differently:
☑️ Private Rooms – Personal space is essential for success.
☑️ Family & Friends Welcome – Rebuilding relationships matters.
☑️ Safe, Well-Maintained Homes – Residents can be proud of where they live.
☑️ Affordable Rent – Quality housing that doesn’t break the bank.
Our goal is simple: to offer housing that feels like home, not a program.
Our Philosophy
At Joe’s House, we believe that success starts with dignity.
Residents are treated like adults – trusted to make decisions, learn, and grow. We maintain every property with pride, including lawn care, pest control, professional cleaning services and timely repairs. Each home is fully renovated before move-in, ensuring a welcoming environment from day one.
Because I’ve been in their shoes, many residents feel comfortable sharing their challenges and asking for advice. When they see what’s possible – that someone who’s been where they are has built something lasting – it gives them hope that they can do it too.
Their success is the most rewarding part of what we do.
Joe's Story
Hi, I’m Joe Howell, born and raised in Idaho’s Treasure Valley. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit – starting my first sales job at 14, delivering The Idaho Statesman and selling newspaper subscriptions door-to-door. Over the years, I built a career in sales and telemarketing, eventually becoming a general manager and owner.
But my path wasn’t perfect. After a series of bad decisions, I served time in prison. When I was released from the Idaho Department of Correction in 2007, I made a commitment to rebuild my life and help others do the same.
With my background in sales, I opened the Boise, Idaho office for Ace Industrial Supply in 2008, hiring my first six employees directly from the IDOC work release center. Over the years, I’ve hired hundreds of people on probation or parole, helping them earn a living and find stability.
In 2015, I learned from some of my employees how difficult it was to find good housing after release. Overcrowded rooms, high costs, and poor living conditions made it nearly impossible for people to get ahead. I decided to change that.
By early 2016, I purchased and renovated my first property – creating a safe, comfortable home where people could have their own rooms and a supportive place to rebuild their lives. That’s how Joe’s House was born.
Today, Joe’s House has grown to eight homes with 55 private rooms, and the demand continues to grow.
In late 2021, I earned my Real Estate License and now I help my clients turn what many believe is an unrealistic dream of homeownership into reality. I don’t just provide housing options, I guide people through the entire purchasing process so they can truly build a stable future of their own.
When I’m not managing Joe’s House, you’ll find me outdoors with my wife, Aly – boating at Lucky Peak, paddle boarding, hiking, mountain biking, or skiing.
Idaho is home, and I’m proud to help others make it their home again, too.