A Family rented a home using a month to month lease 1 month later given 10 days to vacate. He shut off utility?

Friend w 2 children rented a home in s.w. mo. A month by month lease was signed. $250 deposit and 1st month paid. Power was on (elec. and water) Landlord shut them off. Tenets tried to get power restored in their name. Utility Co. said landlord does not want the power turned on until tenets move. He wrote out a eviction notice and gave them 10 days. There food was ruined. They have used what little savings on motels every other night so children can shower for school. Is this legal. They tried to get legal aid but was told they had limited funding and there case did not merit their help. His wife caught pneumonia, the son fell in the dark and received a hairline fracture, so the husband turned on power and received a ticket and summons for theft which he tried to pay for. A side note' during all of this He lost his younger sister to cancer, and his Dad passed two days ago. last month he lost his older brother cancer and his sister in law took her life. Is there a way to stop the eviction or get them more time. Also can they be reimbursed for damages and loss of food and general inconveniences.