Eight workers from the Department of Human Services testified at the Capitol today to share their stories of how day to day tasks turn into struggles.

"I could help [the clients] if I had more workers and a system that stayed on everyday," said DHS worker Jan Brown.

Some caseworkers have up to 800 clients which is more than double what one person should handle. The clients, who feel a lack of personal attention start to get agitated and threaten the workers.

Jackson county DHS worker Amy Harrison takes different ways to work now and tries to avoid the overcrowded lobbies for fear that something horrible will happen.

"[I receive] little less than death threats," she said. The client "was going to wait for me and 'f-me up."

WIth fewer workers to handle more clients, tension fills the offices and often the clients are displeased when they can't get what they want.

"Our lobbies are exploding with people standing," Harrison said. "They can't sit down, they're frustrated and their desperate."

DHS workers said the combination of overcrowding, understaffing and computer systems that can't get the job done make it nearly impossible to fully serve the community.

Brown feels pushed to her limit.

"I'm telling you we've got a crisis here," said Brown. "And it's not the people coming in to us, it's not their fault. It's no workers, not enough workers and a computer system that's not working compatibly. We need help."