HONOLULU -- The people who take care of Hawaii's sick and poor said they are bracing for state budget cuts.

Private, non-profit agencies using money from state government provide most of the social and medical safety net in Hawaii.

The state health department has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to talk about budget cuts and many agencies fear they could actually be harder hit than the rest of state government.

As the economy turns down, the need for housing, health care and mental health services goes up. So agencies that provide these services said now is the worst time for cutbacks.

"We need to make sure that we are not cutting out vital services when the need continues to grow," Gov. Linda Lingle said.

Lingle instructed all departments to plan for 10-15 and 20 percent cuts and health and social services are not exempt.

"With the size of the shortfall we have we're having to reexamine everything that we do and that means across every department and every program," Lingle said.

Money going into the state treasury plummeted along with the economy this year. The sate budget director said they need to save $1.1 billion in the next two and a half years.

Health providers have informally been warned to prepare for cuts. The governor said it's a crisis that demands creativity and flexibility.

"It's not about what will the government will put off or restrict or cut, it's what Willwe as a community, how will we support the different services we need," Lingle said.

Former legislator Alex Santiago has been hired to represent many of the non-profits who won't complain publically.

"There are a lot of providers out there who are concerned that by speaking out their programs are going to be cut," Santiago said.