Some of Austin's most notable non-profits have asked the city for an increase in funding.  The reason they say-- more people are coming to them for help.

They are concerned that if the city cuts their funding, the most vulnerable will slip through the cracks. 

Charles Moseley hopes Austin city officials hear his message.

"Up that funding don't cut it," he said.

Moseley was one step away from homelessness after his wife died.  He credits Caritas, a non profit agency that provides basic needs services with saving his life.  

"It changed my life I get a little emotional when I talk about the folks here because they turned me back into a human being," he said. 

As the city faces an estimated $25.3 million deficit in the 2009 city budget, Austin Area Human Services Association leaders are worried their funding will be reduced.   

"Our concerns are that they not make the cuts of the people who are the most vulnerable among us," said chairman Julia Spann, who represents a coalition of more than 60 non-profit health and human service organizations.  She says the city is one of the biggest entities to fund health and human services.  It will be a community crisis if the organizations can't meet the basic needs. 

"It would be really hard on the city," she said.

In fact, non-profit leaders have asked the city for a 10% increase in funding.  But council member Lee Leffingwell says with the tough economic times were in that's unlikely.

"I don't think that is going to be possible," he said. 

 As city officials look for ways to close the gap and balance the budget, Leffingwell says the city needs to take a serious look at plugging any holes in our basic needs network.

"We can't put our heads in the sand we have to address these issues," he said. 

The city manager must present a balanced budget to council by the end of July.  That is happening next week.

Between July and August, the council will hold public hearings and will vote on the final budget in September.