The father of a woman with severe physical disabilities is appealing to other persons like her and their parents to come together and discuss a way in which they can live together independently.

Anton Schembri claims Church and state homes only cater for those with mental health problems.

"Any homes invariably end up catering for persons with mental problems, who are a bigger burden on their families," Mr Schembri maintained.

His daughter, Debbie, 40, has been living at Dar tal-Providenza since she was six months old. Confined to a wheelchair, but otherwise fine, he admits it is not the ideal place for her. However, attempts to set her up in a flat of her own have not been successful.

In an interview in Pink magazine, Ms Schembri said she lived with persons with mental issues, with whom she could not communicate. After a day's work she has to lock herself up in her room, away from their screaming. She fails to understand why the state cannot distinguish between their differing needs and puts them together.

Mr Schembri said he has been "afraid" to throw his daughter into the deep end and let her fend for herself, living completely alone, even though it has been maintained she would get by.

As things stand, Ms Schembri, although employed and having a social life and a "refugee boyfriend", only has her helper to turn to when she returns home.

"And she cannot open up to her carer completely either; she is responsible for her and would have to correct her if she revealed she went out of line," her father said.

Mr Schembri has made attempts to settle his daughter in private accommodation but she would need a companion to live with her and has not managed to find anyone, he said. One attempt at living with a flatmate only lasted eight weeks.

Ms Schembri had also qualified for a Housing Authority ground-level flat in Pembroke, but again, she had not found the required companion, he said.

His project would involve gathering together around six persons with physical disabilities, who could join forces financially and morally to live independently and improve their social lives "tremendously".

Since some could not afford to live alone, this arrangement would be more economical, he maintained. The project would be self-financing and it would be decided what contributions each could make. Their families could also support them, while occasional funds from philanthropic organisations, or the government would be welcomed.

"Most of these people live with family, who may be reluctant to take care of them, but have to be seen to be doing so. What sort of a life is that? What happens when their parents and relatives die? They have to stay somewhere."

Apart from his own daughter, he referred to a middle-aged man who has physical disabilities yet is living at Mount Carmel Hospital. "He prefers to stay there, rather than end up in an old people's home," Mr Schembri said, adding it was clearly not his place.

If about six of them got together, of both sexes, all they would need was a helper and a cleaner, which they could pay for.

Many people live with their aging parents and do not enjoy the independence and full life they aspire to.

"To those parents who do not agree, I say: What will happen when you die? It is better if they think about it now. If they would like their children to join this project, they should consider it now.

"I do not understand what is stopping this idea, which has been brewing in my mind, from materialising, although I am aware of the possible clash of characters that could result and I believe males and females would need to be segregated at night," Mr Schembri said.

"We would also involve a psychologist and other experts to guide us on how to make this a success."

It is Ms Schembri's dream to move out of Dar tal-Providenza, and although everyone agrees, the question remains: where to?

Anyone interested in Mr Schembri's project can drop an e-mail to antonschembri@onvol.net.