There is, however, one contradiction between the religion of The Market and the traditional religions that seems to be insurmountable. All of the traditional religions teach that human beings are finite creatures and that there are limits to any earthly enterprise. A Japanese Zen master once said to his disciples as he was dying, "I have learned only one thing in life: how much is enough." He would find no niche in the chapel of The Market, for whom the First Commandment is "There is never enough." Like the proverbial shark that stops moving, The Market that stops expanding dies. That could happen. If it does, then Nietzsche will have been right after all. He will just have had the wrong God in mind.

Harvey Cox
From the Atlantic Monthly article 
"The Market as God"

We live in a market economy.  In fact it often feels like we live in the economy more than we live in a community.  So when we ask, "Is there enough for everyone today? Will there be enough tomorrow?" The answer about having enough speaks volumes. 

We, in society and in ourselves, are caught between two visions of the nature of "what is enough?"  On the one hand is a view that self interest is the primary motivating life force.  The other is a vision of the primacy of community, of a neighbour's interest, as being as important as one's own.

The argument is about one's fundamental world view, and at its root lies religious perception of the nature of life either viewed with abundance or with scarcity.

When our neighbour's interests are as important as our own we tend to trust there is enough for both.  If there is not, we work together to create enough.  This has been part and parcel of the Canadian idea of community for many years.  We are are in this together.  We live in community.

American style individualism sees my neighbour's interests in competition for what little resources there may be.  We live in a market.  I assume my neighbour is only acting in his interest as I am acting in mine. When my neighbour competes and fails and then seeks from me what he does not have, I assume weakness or laziness. I see a failure in a Darwinian effort to climb out of poverty.

Of course it is not just a question of what people say they believe, it is a matter of what people do. Those who primarily see scarcity can be at times and with certain people wonderfully generous. Those who primarily see abundance can hold back themselves and possessions out of all character and at the most unsuspected times. However, the vision is important, because it pushes one's self and society in a definite direction. There are no private visions. 

One of our basic needs is to have adequate and affordable shelter. The shelter must to be suitable so that it serves other basic needs of health, family growth, his need for beauty, and privacy. It needs to be affordable so the requirements of the other areas of life can be met. We also need food, clothing, recreation, and the opportunity to work. Unsuitable or unaffordable shelter limits possibilities for my neighbour. And as has been argued elsewhere, limitations upon my neighbour limit me.

My neighbour has needs and he also has, as I do, responsibilities.  For example, we should care for our shelter, to make sure it is kind to the environment, and to make sure it is paid for by as much labour as we can positively contribute to the economy.  Our right to adequate and affordable shelter exists hand in hand with the responsibilities we have as members of society, caretakers of the environment, contributors to the economy, and persons who should have opportunity for personal and family well-being.

Justice - that is fairness and equity in the community - is the necessary condition of each having enough resources to express their lives as fully as possible. It is the responsibility all have toward each other to ensure this condition.

Justice is seen as an expensive option, it is the first to go when times get tough. When we fail to seek justice, we all suffer the consequences of poverty, addiction, crime, and loneliness. Just shelter creates possibilities and responsibilities. Both need to be present, for one can not live long or well without the other.