Inspired by his friend and former teacher Dr. Thomas Gallaudet, the Rev. S.Stanley Searing led the beginnings of the New England Homes for the Deaf. Searing was actively involved with the Deaf Community and married to a Deaf woman. Together with four friends, funds were raised and a home at 273 Cambridge Street in Boston was opened with two Deaf elders. The home was called the New England Home for Deaf Mutes (NEDM).

By 1905, the home had outgrown its Boston location with 11 residents and a waiting list of six more. A larger home was purchased at 112 Fremont Avenue in Everett and the residents and their matron were moved.

The need for an even larger space was realized with a fund-raising campaign in 1924. At that time, Helen Keller and her companion Annie Sullivan were board members. Through Keller and Sullivan, John Frederick Hussey became interested in the work of NEDM. He sold the current home and property (then called "Riverbank") at half their value and donated $5,000 to the building fund. Since that time, the Hussey family has donated additional land and endowment money.

By 1926, the large stone carriage house was converted to a meeting room and dedicated as "Salem Hall" in honor of the Salem Society of Deaf Mutes who were among the main supporters of the new home.

By the 1970's, very little had changed at the home and occupancy was low. The board of directors asked Dr. Richard Thompson to join the board to conduct a market study to determine what should become of the home. Dr. Thompson was a well respected member of the Deaf Community and the founder of the Massachusetts Office of Deafness and the first Massachusetts high school program for Deaf children. Dr. Thompson recommended that a Deaf Director be hired and a public relations program begin to reintroduce the Deaf Community to the now named New England Home for the Deaf. In 1981, Eddy Laird was hired with the mission of revitalizing the reputation of the home. He did an outstanding job of gaining local Deaf Community support and hired as his assistant Nursing Home Administrator Judith Good. Good took over the position of President & CEO in 1992 and began the task of expanding facilities and services to meet the ever increasing needs of New England Deaf Seniors.

In 1997, New England Homes for the Deaf opened an award winning 24 unit Independent Living Facility. In the spring of 2004, the old Victorian Mansion was replaced with a state of the art 60 bed Assisted Living/Skilled Nursing Facility. Both facilities, housed on campus, are "Deaf Friendly" with flashing signaling and safety systems. Both facilities are located on the waterfront with beautiful views of an active marina.

Meeting the need of Deaf seniors who still remain in their own homes, is also a priority for New England Homes for the Deaf. The Deaf Senior Citizen Outreach Program sponsors five regional Deaf Senior Centers throughout the eastern section of Massachusetts which serves 200 community based Deaf Seniors each week. The Assisted Living/Skilled Nursing Facility includes a large community center and patio facing the waterfront where seniors, both residents and community Deaf folks gather for social functions.