BUENA PARK

Pastor Wiley Drake plans to urge a judge today to drop a lawsuit the city filed against him and his church for housing homeless people. The suit came about last year after Drake began housing men and women in a patio shelter at the First Southern Baptist Church, even though that practice violated zoning restrictions and safety codes.

Drake argues that the lawsuit is now moot because the homeless were moved to a 36,000-square-foot temporary shelter next to the church Dec. 8.

At the time of the move, the temporary shelter did not meet city codes, but Drake said volunteers have now finished the safety requirements by installing smoke detectors and a fire sprinkler system. The sprinkler system, however, still needs to be hooked up to the city water lines, Drake said. The judge is expected to rule today on whether the temporary shelter meets city codes.

Volunteers are also continuing to help the church build a permanent 52-bed shelter. Drake earlier this month received a one-year extension from the city to construct the building. The church has raised and spent about $200,000 for construction and anticipates needing $300,000 more, Drake said.