mdd — I will take the bait and ask what exactly in Eretz Yisroel are you referring to as Chillul Hashem? Certainly according to all opinions the public desecration of Halacha by Jews is the primary example of Chillul Hashem. So yes, unfortunately there is a tremendous amount of Chillul Hashem in Eretz Yisroel today. . . but what does that have to do with this topic?
BTW — I spent my Kollel years in the US, not in Israel. And as mentioned earlier, I supported my husband with a decent paying job during those years. We did not live off anyone else (not our parents nor the government). We never received ANY government welfare (food stamps, HUD, section 8, medicare, etc.), with the exception of 1 year early on when I was still in graduate school (on weekends, working during the week), and we qualified for WIC (a supplemental food program aimed at lower middle class women who are expecting/ nursing, and young children). So I am not trying to defend myself here, simply to express my understanding of others who make this choice.
Here in Israel my husband is in Chinuch, not in Kollel, and the only government money we receive is the “kiztvat yelodim”, the “child subsidy” payments which are part of bituach leumi and have nothing to do with income.