Scaling Second Chances: Lessons from the Hilltop Move the Box Pilot

A mom homeschooling her kids at the library saw the sign that said “expungement applications” and whispered, “I need that.” Hours later, she became the first guest to walk out with her expungement process complete.

That moment was the heart of something much bigger. Over the past year, Make-A-Day had been in conversation with Deena Strategies about creating a strategy to address one of the most stubborn barriers to housing and employment stability: the weight of an old criminal record. At the same time, the Hilltop Library invited us in for a community event. The timing was right. After our first event with Hilltop, sharing meals and connecting with neighbors, we knew this was the place to launch a new model for justice.

Why Expungement Matters

Expungement is the legal process of sealing or clearing certain criminal records, giving people the chance to move forward without the weight of past mistakes defining their future. In Ohio, that often means removing non-violent, lower-level offenses, things like old theft charges, possession, or other records tied to poverty, addiction, or survival.

The consequences of carrying those records are steep. A single misdemeanor can shut the door to stable housing, block access to better jobs, and disqualify someone from critical supports. Even when someone has completed their sentence, gone through treatment, or turned their life around, an old record can keep them trapped in cycles of homelessness, unemployment, and instability.

Expungement doesn’t erase accountability; it restores opportunity. It opens pathways to housing, employment, and dignity that should not be closed forever. That’s why Move the Box is more than paperwork; it’s a direct investment in stability for families and in the economic health of the entire community.

Building Trust, Building Change

For six months, we showed up. Week after week, more than 700 neighbors came through the Hilltop Library to share meals, receive harm reduction tools, and connect with case management. But more importantly, they experienced what has always defined Make-A-Day: our dignity-centered approach. Breaking bread at the same tables, walking side by side to services, every small act built trust.

On October 6, 2025, that tradition converged with strategy and scale. The Hilltop Library transformed into a courthouse, a clinic, a workforce hub, and a community table all at once. More than 250 guests engaged with services during the pilot. Over 60 expungements were completed onsite, immediately removing barriers to housing and employment. Another 90 neighbors requested follow-up support for IDs, housing, and legal navigation. The library’s door count doubled, with more than 2,000 visitors compared to the usual 1,052, and over 500 came specifically for the event. The community’s question as the day ended was simple: “When’s the next one?”

Justice at the Table

The answer lay in how the day felt. Attorneys from the Ohio Public Defender’s Office sat shoulder-to-shoulder with neighbors, filling out expungement paperwork line by line. Judges Jim O’Grady and Carl Aveni leaned across tables, signing fee waivers. The Clerk of Courts staff filed applications on site, turning signatures into action within minutes. The Prosecutor’s Office and LASCO didn’t just explain barriers; they mapped out new paths forward for those who weren’t eligible for expungement, from pardons to Certificates of Qualification for Employment (CQEs) and Certificates of Qualification for Housing (CQHs), making sure no one left empty-handed. And when ID issues threatened to derail applications, the BMV was onsite, with Make-A-Day volunteers stepping in to write in contact info and provide mailing addresses so paperwork could move forward without delay.

The experience wasn’t confined to legal access. In the parking lot, neighbors sat with Columbus Public Health and Mt. Carmel teams for screenings, referrals, and conversations about medical needs. Harm reduction workers passed naloxone and test strips across tables, explaining how to use them. Insurance navigators from CareSource and Molina crouched next to guests, going through enrollment steps. OhioMeansJobs staff leaned in close to talk about employment opportunities. Even COTA representatives sat with neighbors to troubleshoot transportation challenges.

Meals were shared at crowded tables, turning strangers into companions. A woman heading to a job interview the next day left with both cleared records and the perfect dress from our Free Store. A veteran who had long felt invisible said this was the first time he truly felt supported. A longtime Southeast client, usually hesitant to engage, trusted the space enough to receive a much-needed haircut. A man without ID dashed out to secure a temporary one and came back to finish what he started. Our team even arranged a birthday haircut for a guest, a small act that said, “You matter here.”

ROI: More Than Numbers

The impact was as much about presence as it was about process. Attorneys called it the most rewarding day of their careers. Library staff said the building had never felt more alive. Neighbors took cabs, brought friends, and stayed for hours because they felt something rare: a system moving toward them instead of away.

The return on investment is both measurable and deeply human. Every dollar invested in barrier removal like Move the Box creates measurable economic return through reduced recidivism, increased employment, and stabilized housing. Early estimates suggest that for every $1 invested, the community sees a $46.58 return. But the real measure is in lives changed: parents who can now work again, veterans who feel seen, families finally moving toward stability.

What’s Next

The October 6th pilot in Hilltop showed us what’s possible: over 60 expungements completed onsite, more than 250 guests engaged, and nearly 100 asking for continued support. Now comes the critical next step, staying with participants to ensure they make their hearings, keep their momentum, and achieve true stability.

This is why Make-A-Day must continue to lead and expand this work. Our dignity-centered approach, our long-standing presence in community, and our proven model of trust and follow-through uniquely position us to carry Move the Box forward. With the right investment and partners, we can scale this success across Franklin County, creating a new standard for justice and reentry.

Ready to Join Us?

The Hilltop pilot proved that when dignity and collaboration lead, systems can change. With your investment, Make-A-Day can expand Move the Box across Franklin County, reaching thousands more neighbors, multiplying economic return, and reshaping justice from the ground up.

👉 Be part of the next Pop-Up Care Village: makeaday.fun/events
👉 Invest in scaling Move the Box: makeaday.fun/give
👉 Connect with our team: makeaday.fun/contact

Together, we can turn a one-day pilot into a county-wide movement for second chances.