Houston GC Defrauded Us $200,000 Feeling Low

Hello HTX. I'm not entirely sure where to turn anymore. I am totally drained both emotionally and financially. Last year we entered a contract with a Houston-area general contractor, a relative of mine referred us to who had done good work for them. The guy meets us at our should-be home and everything seems legit. He appeared understanding and sympathetic to the fact our previous general contractor split after being paid $250,000 (those fraudsters are currently under FBI investigation and us + other homeowners are in a class action lawsuit against them). So he knew what we had been through and our desperation. We thought we had learned from our first harrowing experience and decided to go with someone whose work we could inspect personally.

He promised us with a toothy grin, his meaty hand over his cross necklace that he'll get things wrapped up and we'll be in our dream home in no-time! His team drafts up a contract promptly, terms are fair and responsible, and the completion date is 4 to 5 months from first payment! Perfect! We are thrilled! Finally, we will have the nice home we have worked so hard for. So we paid!

A year and Eight months Later we are about 65% to project completion and the contractor has been paid about 90% of the projects cost has been paid. He kept demanding payment otherwise he would threaten to stop-work (our worst nightmare). And after payment he would bemoan a personal emergency or recently blame the hurricanes. We have been understanding and sympathetic! People should always take care of their families. We have been nice. We We have tried being firm. Asking for timelines. Etc. But here we are another month "delayed" and time passes with no updates or work scheduled. He dodges our call and texts.

And unfortunately A lot has changed these past few years. We dealt with a fire that displaced us and a burst bathroom pipe that displaced us again at our current apartment. We were managing until I got diagnosed with a rather serious autoimmune disease that has and rendered me unable to work full-time. I have had to step away or risk losing my life. My beloved has stepped in and is carrying us in way I thought only existed in fairy tails but we are now seriously vulnerable.

We are good people, we work, scrimped and saved up for 10+ years, and we pay people who we hire to do work. I could never imagine doing this to anyone… All of our money and dreams have melted away over the years.

Our funds are now drained, I can't imagine how I can manage to pay someone else another $100,000+ to finish up a house I still have to manage to pay property taxes on. All the while this scumbag is taking vacations to Turks and Caicos, smoking cigars in front of Rolls Royces, bleating prosperity gospel on Instagram, and advertising '$200,000 Condos in 2 months' in Dallas. It feels like the worlds most cruel joke! I think about how we've been treated I feel sick but when I think about him re-creating this torment for others I find myself raging in way I didn't realize I had in me.

I have contacted property lawyers but I only see the burning of more cash I just don't have. The situation (as it was my referral) has soured my relationship. My partner does their best not to blame me but I do. I can't sleep at night from the guilt. I can't believe I was so foolish and I unintentionally opened him up to face harm. My therapist wants me consider anti depression medication to help me manage my mood. I often find myself asking 'Do I even deserve a home?' 'What's the point in living if everyone around will steal from me and face no consequences?' and 'How can someone steal from others for their livelihood.' I cry when I think of the family I dreamed of starting in this lovely little home. I keep crying. My friends are sick to death of hearing about it. My relatives who referred him have basically started avoiding me. it's so isolating and lonely. Even one of lawyer I contacted said 'fat chance'. I realize perhaps I am little dumb and certainly naive but what else can I do? What else could i have done? How can I keep going?

TDLR; Lost a lifetime of savings on a contractor family said would be a sure thing. Still can't live in my house. Got extremely sick and developed depression. Don't ever struggle. Everyone will abandon you.