Homeless children, dialysis patients, illiterate adults, youngsters with autism, the mentally ill, and those in need of treatment for drugs and alcohol.

They're all part of a long list of individuals who would suffer as a result of funding losses outlined in Gov. Corbett's proposed budget, according to directors of local nonprofits.

As the governor aims to reduce a $4.2 billion deficit without raising taxes, county and community agencies say they're in crisis mode.

"If not for bleeding-heart people, we'd be lost because the system doesn't care," said Mary McGrath, executive director of Adams-Hanover Counseling Services.

McGrath's organization will lose nearly $1 million if Gov. Corbett's budget passes with the proposed 20 percent cuts to health and human services.

That will mean layoffs, wage freezes and reduced benefits for employees, and the service provider will be forced to turn away customers, she said.

McGrath, other nonprofit executives, business leaders and local lawmakers shared their concerns Friday during a Pennsylvania Budget Forum hosted by the United Way of York County.

The speakers had a chance to explain their hardships to Peter Tartline, the Pennsylvania executive deputy secretary of the budget. He has been part of similar sessions in 10 other commonwealth counties this year.

"We're in an era never seen before. We're all going to struggle through this together," Tartline said.

The state Senate on Wednesday restored $500 million to the proposed budget, including $84 million to human services programming. It is now being moved to the House for consideration.

But Corbett said the restoration of cuts was excessive. "We're going to need the money," he said last week.

Challenges facing the state during the next fiscal year include $403 million in burgeoning pension costs - $320 million of which is designated for retired school employees. The other $83 million will be paid to retired state employees.

Pennsylvania is also burdened by a growing debt service, controlling the growth of correction systems costs and the increasing enrollment in the state's Medicaid and Department of Public Welfare programs, he said.

But local leaders said those burdens will only get worse if social service agencies are forced to direct constituents to welfare instead of providing them with the necessary tools for self-sustainability.

"Folks are trying to do more with less," said Tony Ross, president of the United Way of Pennsylvania.

And it's not working, executive directors said.

"You can't cut paper clips to reduce ($1 million)," McGrath said.

She and other leaders said they'll be forced to cut jobs.

Impact: Michelle Hovis, executive director of York County Human Services, said she's looking for ways her agency's potential $4.5 million loss will impact as few people as possible. But it's very difficult, she said, and the fear of unemployment has reduced morale in the workplace.

"Yes, people are going to lose their jobs, and it's hard to give anyone any assurance right now that it won't be them," she said.

At least 100 local jobs could be lost throughout county agencies as a result of the proposed budget, directors said.

But that doesn't compare to the number of York area residents who will be left without services, they said.

Hundreds could be homeless if York County Human Services loses 100 percent of its homeless assistance funding as proposed. That money is used to support homeless shelters and other programs designed to keep residents from living on the streets.

"We're in a crisis here," said Bob Woods, executive director of the United Way of York County. "You can't put Band-Aids on a crisis. We need a real investment in our future."

- Reach Candy Woodall at 505-5437 or cwoodall@yorkdispatch.com.

The impact

In effort to reduce a $4.2 billion deficit without raising taxes, Gov. Corbett's proposed 2012-13 state budget aims to slash funding to social services by 20 percent.

Local agencies impacted include York County Human Services, which will lose $4.5 million in funding, and Adams-Hanover Counseling Services, which will lose nearly $1 million in funding.

Directors of the nonprofits - which already have long waiting lists for assistance - say the cuts will cause job losses in York County, and residents will lose services that keep them healthy and safe.

Below is a list of some services that will be affected:

* Reduced rental assistance for 200 households whose members could be forced out of their homes as a result.

* Job skills training for the intellectually disabled would be eliminated.

* Truancy prevention that checks on absent students and connects with parents would be reduced by 20 percent.

* Family therapy provided by the county's Children, Youth & Families would be reduced by 20 percent.

* Foster care services that treat emotionally-troubled children 12 to 17 years old would be reduced by 20 percent.

* Outpatient treatment funding for mental health patients would be reduced by 20 percent.

* Funding for drug and alcohol treatment would be reduced by 20 percent.