Salim Beghdadi, a clinical sociologist and urban security coordinator for the Table de quartier de Montréal-Nord, says the current social intervention model in Quebec is failing to address the root causes of urban violence and homelessness. According to Beghdadi, the system relies too heavily on crisis management and policing, leaving vulnerable populations—particularly youth—without effective support as the nature of crime shifts toward unorganized, opportunistic acts.
The Quebec government has recorded more than 500 suspected opioid-related deaths annually, while the province’s official count of visible homelessness has surged by 44% over the last five years.
The Shift in Urban Security
Montreal’s security landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, according to reports from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) and the provincial Ministry of Public Security. While targeted police interventions have contributed to a decline in firearm-related crimes, social violence has become increasingly fragmented. Officials observe a rise in interpersonal conflicts and public space tensions that differ from the structured gang dynamics of the past.
The trend is particularly concerning among youth. Beghdadi notes that children as young as 12 are becoming involved in serious offenses, including human trafficking. Unlike traditional gang affiliations, these actions are often driven by economic distress, social media influence, and a lack of stable institutional support.
The shift from structured gang activity to “opportunistic” crime suggests that traditional law enforcement methods may be reaching their limit. By focusing on policing rather than structural social support, authorities risk missing the underlying causes of youth delinquency, such as economic instability and the breakdown of community-based intervention programs.
Why Current Intervention Models are Struggling
The existing social service framework is insufficient to meet current needs, according to Beghdadi. He points to recent budget cuts—such as those affecting the “Agir en amont” project and the findings of investigations into “Agora Déclic”—as evidence that provincial support for youth is fracturing. Approximately one-third of young people under the care of the Director of Youth Protection (DPJ) will experience at least one period of homelessness before the age of 21.
Beghdadi argues that the current system creates an “asymmetric” relationship between experts and those they serve. By prioritizing clinical protocols and risk management, institutions often overlook the necessity of long-term, human-centered connections. This approach, he suggests, treats the marginalized solely as cases to be managed rather than individuals to be integrated.
What May Happen Next
A possible next step involves a move toward what Beghdadi calls a “relation d’être,” or a “relation of being,” which emphasizes stable, unconditional presence over cold procedural interaction. If institutions continue to rely on a binary choice between police control and emergency humanitarian aid, the cycle of social exclusion is likely to persist. Stakeholders may push for the creation of direct communication channels between community organizations and police leadership to manage tensions more inclusively, rather than waiting for crises to occur.
Frequently Asked Questions
[What is the primary criticism of the current social intervention model?]
Salim Beghdadi argues that the model is overly reliant on crisis management and policing, which fails to address systemic issues and reduces vulnerable individuals to statistics rather than providing meaningful, long-term social support.
[How has the nature of crime changed in Montreal?]
According to the SPVM and the Ministry of Public Security, there has been a shift from structured, identifiable gang activity to a more diffuse “criminality of opportunity,” characterized by interpersonal conflicts and youth involvement in serious crimes like human trafficking.
[What is the impact of current social service policies on youth?]
Data cited by Beghdadi indicates that about one-third of youth in the DPJ system face homelessness before age 21, a situation exacerbated by budget cuts to programs like “Agir en amont.”
How can community organizations and police better collaborate to address the systemic causes of youth involvement in criminal activities?
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