In order to do that I must organize my finances and wondered if anyone had a great excel spreadsheet they can recommend to begin creating and daily & monthly budget with the goal of maximizing my savings to have the funds for a down payment.

This is a very reputable local non-profit that will distribute funds appropriately to different organizations. 

As for gentrification that is a natural process that is a benefit not a negative.If you want to create affordable housing join or contribute to a charity organization don't start a business.

Can you connect me to the organizer of the events?

Be organized, polite but persistent, get a meeting with an examiner and leave with permit in hand.

Through all my organizations, business ventures and community involvement many of the people I know are not from this area.

Within 2 days was approved and received my Articles of Organization. 

We attended an OZ Conference in Portland, Oregon where they already have a few projects up a running and have talked with a few contacts about setting up a fund.If you are genuinely interested I would love to connect you with the owner/organizer of the conference.

Also, for those of you located in Connecticut, are there any good networking groups/organizations that I could get involved in? 

@Mike StahlmanFor a return with 4 rentals, it depends how organized your records are.