Isn't this promissory estoppel? Like they promised that you would start at a certain date, causing you to quit your current job. Then they withdrew the promise, causing you to be unemployed.
This is so unethical there should be a 1 or 2 month "deposit" for these cases haha
Since then, companies would call about contract to hire and I'd tell them, "Sure, I'll take the position but they have to be willing to fund a bond worth $10,000 (10% of expected salary) that is immediately transferred to me if the contract is renewed or ends without a hire."
I take a risk when I go a year without insurance, they're going to pay for that. Not one of these companies ever accepted. On a more rich note, there's no such thing as contract to hire - they have zero obligation and you retain all the risk. It's junk and marketing by malicious people.