Canadian music icon Neil Young has been spotted helping out some of the homeless of Santa Monica, Calif.

LOS ANGELES -- We all know Neil Young is amazing on a hundred levels. But is he also a top secret hero to the homeless?

Santa Monica home contractor Joe Barlino swears the Toronto-born, Winnipeg-raised musician has been in his neighbourhood, personally helping the helpless.

"We see him, he's a great guy," Barlino said. "He stops and sits with the homeless and talks to them. Once he even brought this old woman crying about her tooth to the dentist."

If this is for real, why do Young's peeps refuse to confirm it? Young's longtime manager, Elliot Roberts -- whose offices are suspiciously located in Santa Monica near the alleged good deeds -- won't confirm or deny what Young does in his spare time. A source in the office, however, said, "There is a homeless problem in the area and if Mr. Young is out walking and sees someone in need, it would certainly be in his character to stop and help ... but don't quote me on that."

Why all the secrecy?

"He doesn't want attention brought to it."

Well, obviously someone is catching on to the 63-year-old's philanthropy.

It was announced a few weeks ago the singer will be feted the night of the next Grammy's as the Recording Academy's 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year for his musical legacy and public philanthropic work, which includes being the driving force behind Farm Aid, the 2005 Live 8 concert in Canada and the Bridge School benefit.

Would Young's reps at Warner Brothers at least care to comment on this honour? No, no comment. Real men of genius don't brag.