FORT SCOTT — Hope Outreach of Fort Scott, the group that began as the Homeless Alliance, came away with a liaison from both the county and the city after asking each for time instead of money.

“What we would like from the county is not money at all. It is something that is much more precious. We would like time,” Joan Brown told Bourbon County commissioners Nov. 2. She asked for a non-voting liaison to meet with the group’s board about once a quarter.

“I believe the last count we had was 16 homeless people, and that is not including what we would call the couch surfers that are in our high schools,” Brown said. She said the group wants to connect people with services already here, does not want to build a shelter, and has helped get about six people housed.

Commissioner Joe Allen volunteered as the county’s liaison. The next night, Brown made her request to the Fort Scott City Commission, which voted 4-0 to name Commissioner Julie Buchta to the same role. Brown said she also plans to ask the school district for a non-voting liaison. Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee suggested the county’s application for opioid funds, and Brown said the group cannot apply until it finishes its IRS paperwork.