Can I sue for damage to my personal property in this situation?

Yes, sue him for loss of your items and the wrongful eviction. You indicated you had a contract with him, did you also take pictures of what you did to the house to improve its condition. You need to show that you lived up to your end. He is still liable for ruining your property, he had no right to put your items out like that. He had an obligation to protect them for up to 6 months till you could make arrangements to pick them up.