Allow the Unemployed Penalty-Free Access to Their Retirement Accounts

I've been unemployed for over two years and had to make the painful decision to take regular distributions from my IRA in order to pay my mortgage, utilities and creditors. This was unavoidable and, I believe, an honorable, responsible action on my part. However the IRS has penalized me 10% on every distribution...because unemployment is not one of the exceptions allowed under the law. You can withdraw from an IRA without penalty in order to pay excessive medical expenses, and to buy a home...but not to KEEP that home if you lose your job. It's absurd. I saved that money and should have access to it in an emergency. It was never my intention to touch it until I retired...but I also never expected to lose my job or remain unemployed for so long.