NASHVILLE (AP) - Federal prosecutors have charged a woman in Nashville with taking money from Veterans Affairs grants that she said was to be used for housing for homeless veterans.

Birdie Anderson, who operated Next Stage, Inc., was given an $80,600 grant from the federal government in 2007 to operate a home for homeless veterans where services would be provided, such as job training and referrals and mental health and substance abuse treatments. She also received additional VA grants in excess of $280,000 for the purchase of a car and property that were to be used for veterans.

According to the felony information filed in federal court on Monday, Anderson kept some of the grant money for her own use. A federal public defender appointed to her case did not immediately return a call for comment.