What was supposed to be a dream home has become a nightmare for a Shoreham family who say they were left with a gutted house, tens of thousands of dollars in losses, and nowhere to live—except for a camper in their backyard.

Deanna Salentino and her family had big plans for their home on Winston Court. But instead of a move-in ready house, they’re looking at bare studs, exposed wires, missing doors and railings - and no sign of progress.

Salentino says the contractor she hired, Robert Cortese, of Tool Time Construction, tore the home apart in early May after receiving a $96,200 payment. Since then, she says, no materials or appliances have been ordered and no further work has been completed.

Salentino says she later learned that Cortese appeared on the Suffolk County Consumer Affairs "Wall of Shame" for operating without a valid contractor’s license.

News 12 attempted to get Cortese’s side of the story at his home.

“They say you took $96,000 but didn’t do the work. Can you explain that?” News 12 asked.

“That’s a lie,” Cortese replied before asking News 12 to leave his property. He offered no further comment.

With nowhere else to go, Salentino, her husband, their three children—including an 8-month-old baby—are now living in a camper parked behind the home.

“It’s misery. And I thought I was supposed to be moving into my house today. It’s awful,” she said.

The family has since hired a new contractor to pick up where the work left off, though they face delays and increased costs to undo the damage.

Suffolk County police say they are investigating the matter.