Kaua'i County officials say they expect about 700 affordable housing units to be built over the next few years, half of which will be for sale and half for rent.

Habitat for Humanity's 'Ele'ele Iluna project has room for about 125 homes. Construction on the first seven has started. The project was used as a pilot program and gives people an opportunity to learn about home ownership through classes provided by the county.

Other affordable housing projects in various stages of development include Schuler Homes' 56-unit Halemalu; 140 units in the county's Kalepa and Pa'anau Villages; Kaua'i Lagoon's 106 rental units on Kapule Highway; Princeville's 100 units of employee housing; 40 housing units among Lihu'e Land Co.'s 270 in the Hanama'ulu Triangle; Self-Help Housing Corp.'s 41-unit Puhi Self-Help Housing development; the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' 49-unit Kekaha project; and another Kekaha project with 44 units on state land.

The county established an Affordable Housing Task Force to streamline the permitting process for lower-cost housing. The task force's programs include the simultaneous review by building, planning and other agencies that approve such projects.